ZUFIT SIMON - Bodies in Rebellion

In the organizer's words:

tanzOFFensive 2026

Bodies in Rebellion asks: How do rebellious bodies form themselves in resistance to existing systems? How do physical forms of protest set themselves in motion to challenge power relations? Zufit Simon and her team of dancers, accompanied by a live musician, search for answers.
Following the success of Radical Cheerleading, which was nominated for the German Theater Prize "Der Faust" in 2023, Simon is expanding her research into protest bodies. How does the body become a weapon to attract attention and reinforce a message?
How do the forces of order react to these forms of resistance? The piece sheds light on female protest and shows how to stand up for one's rights peacefully but resolutely. The role of the voice and acoustic signals are of central importance here. The focus is on the ambivalence of the protesting bodies - they are simultaneously strong and vulnerable, a fascinating interplay between power and fragility. Bodies in Rebellion challenges us to recognize the body as a political instrument of resistance.

Artistic direction, choreography: Zufit Simon Creation, dance: Dorota Michalak, Sunayana Shetty, Cary Shiu, Zufit Simon, music: Fredrik Olofsson Lighting design: JOM
Outside Eye: Sarah Israel, Clarissa Rêgo Scientific advice: Dr. Simon Teune, Costumes: Lee Méir, Production management: artblau Tanzwerkstatt

The realization of the project is made possible by funds from the Hauptstadtkulturfonds and the Bayerischer Landesverband für zeitgenössischen Tanz (BLZT) with funds from the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts. Supported by the Lower Saxony Foundation.