Tanzklubs 2026/2027
Get involved, get moving, discover – in the dance clubs of the Hessische Staatsballett!
At our dance clubs in Darmstadt and Wiesbaden, we invite everyone to join in and get active. Whether you have dance experience or not – if you enjoy movement, are open to new things, and want to share exciting experiences with others, you’re in exactly the right place. Our dance clubs are designed for various age groups and are open to all – regardless of background, prior experience, or physical ability. What matters most is a passion for dance and community!
The dance clubs meet once a week throughout the performance season (excluding school holidays and public holidays). In addition, there will be a joint workshop day. The grand finale is a shared performance by all dance clubs – a celebration of movement, creativity, and togetherness.
Each dance club is limited to a maximum of 25 participants. Registration is only possible via the form provided on our website. Please note that registration is not based on a “first come, first served” principle.
Please send the completed and signed registration form (along with any proof for discounts, if applicable) via email to:
tanzvermittlung@hessisches-staatsballett.de
Registration deadline: August 31, 2026.
Season 26/27
Tanzklub Wiesbaden – “Shifting weight” with Mira Urbassek
Shifting weight, leaving your centre of gravity, risking a fall: shifting weight is a fundamental principle of contemporary dance and reflects a new understanding of the body.
Inspired by this season’s theme, “Who Owns the City?”, we travel back to the origins of contemporary dance. Together, we will discover its pioneering figures, place their ideas in their historical context, and experience firsthand why their innovations continue to shape dance today.
Contemporary dance emerged from the desire to move beyond the rigid conventions of classical ballet and explore new possibilities of movement. Artists left the theatre stage behind and danced in parks, on streets, and on rooftops.
Through improvisation, floorwork, and historical movement principles, we will explore how our bodies relate to the spaces around us. What changes when we leave our point of balance or our familiar position? How do we experience proximity, distance, or belonging when we move differently through space? Together, we will investigate how movement can transform the way we perceive and inhabit our surroundings.
No previous dance experience is required—only curiosity about the history of contemporary dance and a willingness to explore it through movement.
The workshop is open to everyone aged 18 and over who enjoys moving together and would like to create and perform a piece on stage at the end of the season.
Age: 18+
Tanzklub Darmstadt – “Roots & Groove” with Jniifa (Jennifer Owusu)
In this dance club, you’ll discover the rich diversity of African dance styles—from traditional dances from Ghana to contemporary Afro dance styles such as Afrobeats, including Azonto, Shaku, Zanku, and many more.
You’ll learn the distinctive movements, rhythms, and expressive qualities of each style, developing your skills step by step. Alongside the technique, you’ll gain fascinating insights into the cultural traditions and historical origins of the dances.
The combination of tradition, community, and creative self-expression creates an inspiring atmosphere where you can dance with joy, discover new forms of movement, and express yourself freely.
Starts: September 23, 2026
Dance Club: Wednesdays, 6:30–8:00 pm
Age: 16+
Jniifa (Jennifer Owusu) is a choreographer, dancer, and Dun-Dun drummer. Born and raised in Germany, she developed a strong desire from an early age to reconnect with her Ghanaian roots and explore the rich diversity of African cultures.
Through regular cultural journeys to West Africa and the guidance of renowned artists and mentors from the region, she trained in both traditional and contemporary West African dance styles.
She entered the urban dance scene through Locking, competing in numerous dance battles and competitions across Germany.
Jennifer Owusu is the founder of the Afro dance company Afrotudedancers and chair of the cultural association Kaloyelen e. V.. Through her artistic work, she creates spaces for cultural exchange, empowerment, and collective learning.
In her workshops and classes, she shares in-depth practical and artistic knowledge of a wide range of West African dance traditions, placing them within their cultural, historical, and social contexts. Alongside movement vocabulary and polyrhythmic structures, participants explore themes such as ways of life, values, spirituality, history, and social structures—all of which are deeply reflected in traditional dance practices.
A central focus of her work is empowering people to strengthen their sense of identity and develop authentic self-expression through dance. To bridge theoretical knowledge and embodied practice, Jennifer Owusu created the format Culture Talk & Dance.
Currently there are no upcoming performances of this Program.
