Offensive Tanz for young audiences

In 2026 again FRATZ International and Offensive Tanz are joining forces to make dance for young audiences in Berlin more visible and to foster exchange with international professionals on artistic, aesthetic and structural questions.

This year's programme features several dance performances: BÄÄÄM – A Dance Performance for Deaf and Hearing Audiences (3+) by tanzfuchs PRODUKTION / Barbara Fuchs (Cologne, Germany), BOSQUE (Forest) – A Dance Performance for Children (2+) by Flores TeatroDanza / Teatro Al Vacío (Mexico), and The Sticky Dance for the youngest audiences (ages 3–5) by Second Hand Dance (United Kingdom).

The festival will also present Baobab by Cíntia Rangel & Theater o.N., which was nominated for the 2026 Ikarus Award and has been longlisted for the 2027 AUGENBLICK MAL! Festival.

FRATZ also marks the launch of a series of new artistic research initiatives commissioned by Offensive Tanz.

On Saturday, 10 October, Offensive Tanz and FRATZ invite participants to an informal exchange on intergenerational approaches in dance for young audiences. The event also serves as the starting point of our first residency in cooperation with FELD Theater for Young Audiences. Artists Lea Martini and Eva-Martina Günther will present their research project ein kreis. fast rund ("a circle. almost round"). Participants are invited to discuss different formats and experiences of intergenerational artistic practice.

We are also launching the first Atelier for artistic research with the youngest audiences, developed by choreographer Renae Shadler and scenographer Camille Lacadée. The Atelier is a participatory space for artistic experimentation that is created before and throughout the FRATZ Festival. Together with children from local daycare centres, the two artists explore materials, space and creative processes. On Sunday, 11 October, all festival professionals are invited to take part in a specially designed Atelier session. Participants will have the opportunity to step into the role of co-creating children before joining the artists for a conversation about the process and its artistic implications.

On Monday evening (13 October), together with ASSITEJ's international Young Dance Network, we also invite festival participants to an active networking session at Junges Tanzhaus Berlin, offering an opportunity to meet, move and exchange with colleagues.

In addition, the FRATZ Symposium explores different aspects of accessibility. On 10 October, the artists of tanzfuchs will lead a discussion on creating work for Deaf and hearing audiences. On 11 October, the artists of Second Hand Dance will share insights into developing performances for neurodivergent audiences.