Techno meets ballet - A Techno Ballet Odyssey

A Techno Ballet Odyssey at Bootshaus Köln is no ordinary dance evening - it is a fusion, an experiment, a journey into a completely new world. This is where tradition and innovation meet, precision and raw energy, ballet and techno. Ready for an unforgettable evening?

When lace dance meets techno

Ballet and nightlife - two worlds that at first glance could hardly seem further apart. But it is precisely this tension that makes them so appealing: What happens when classical dance technique conquers the club and the stage becomes a dance floor?

At the center of the evening is a 70-minute performance by the Berlin Ballet Company. The dancers do not move on a distant stage, but through the middle of the crowd - the entire space becomes a choreographed zone. They perform on three stages simultaneously, while light and visuals merge with precise ballet technique and a pulsating techno soundtrack blurs the boundaries between theater and club.

The music comes from Marko Nastić, a protagonist of the Belgrade techno scene who has been shaping the electronic music landscape since the 1990s. The DJ and producer performs his specially composed soundtrack live - and stays on the decks afterwards. After the show, the party continues seamlessly: with a powerful DJ line-up and hours of partying, the artistic intervention turns into a night of dancing.

An experience that is both - and neither completely.

Our experience from the Berlin power plant

December 2024, premiere of "A Techno Ballet Odyssey" at Kraftwerk Berlin: we stand in the long queue in front of the imposing concrete halls. All around us is a colorful mix - leather outfits next to everyday clothes, young clubbers next to ballet lovers.

The location immediately captivates us. Excitement is in the air as the first bass rattles through the halls. The actual performance begins at 9 pm. A tall, androgynous figure in a black leather corset and glittering trousers - Argentinian dancer Lucio Vidal - dances his way through the crowd. The eight dancers move between three raised platforms and the audience, creating touching moments of closeness. We watch in awe, right in the middle of it all.
The dancers show impressive technical virtuosity: pointe dancing meets voguing elements and acrobatic lifts. The immersive design creates magical moments - especially when the dancers suddenly emerge from the crowd.

When DJ Marko Nastić plays live music and a soprano suddenly weaves an operatic aria into the techno sound, a fascinating arc of suspense is created. The light installations are spectacular. At the same time, we realize: The movements have to be large and overly clear in order to remain visible between the concrete pillars. What's sometimes lost in the process is the subtlety. A sweaty club atmosphere doesn't quite emerge despite the powerful beats. Nonetheless: Ballet has never been so close to a club context.

It is an ambitious spectacle with strong moments that shows us how exciting this fusion can be - even if, in our opinion, it juxtaposes the boundaries between the worlds rather than dissolving them completely.

For all those looking for the unusual

"A Techno Ballet Odyssey" is aimed at anyone who is curious to get involved in something completely new - those who are looking for neither pure high culture nor mere clubbing, but want to explore the space in between. It is an attempt to break down established categories and allow two aesthetic systems to collide.

What emerges is difficult to put into words: a fusion that demands both concentrated observation and physical devotion. Not a passive reception, but an immersive experience that only reveals itself in the moment.

If you are open to experiments on the fringes of performance, music and nightlife, you will find what you are looking for here. The rest is an experience. Have fun, see you there! <3

Here you can find a sneak peek of what to expect ⭐️