The stage is yours: No matter whether you want to sing, read, rap, slam, rock, dance or perform… Feel free to invent your own genre! You can perform solo or with others. We provide a stage, microphones, a NORD e-piano, an acoustic guitar, a sound desk, a couple of wigs and some props. And you can bring your own instruments, too.

Treffen junge Szene

Tanztreffen der Jugend 2018

Tanztreffen der Jugend

Haus der Berliner Festspiele, Oberes Foyer

Haus der Berliner Festspiele, Upper&nbsp;Foyer

Bühne spezial: Open Stage #3

Stage special: Open Stage #3

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Every year, the Tanztreffen der Jugend offers young people who practise contemporary dance as a form of expression a platform for the presentation and further development of their artistic work. Participants are selected in a nationwide contest..

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Tanztreffen der Jugend 2025

Today’s Events

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After their performance at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele, the productions invited to the Tanztreffen der Jugend 2025 are available in the media library until September 2026. Through diverse choreographies and forms of expression in contemporary and urban dance, the young dancers explore what constitutes their own identity and how it asserts itself in interaction with others.

Tanztreffen der Jugend in the Media Library

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Congratulations to the selected ensembles! The eight award-winning works selected by the jury will be presented from 27 September to 3 October during the Tanztreffen der Jugend at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele.

The 2025 Selection

Tanztreffen der Jugend looks for pieces by young dance ensembles in schools, from structures or groups linked to the indie or professional (dance) theatre scene, who alone or under professional guidance find their own themes and express them in an artistic form using contemporary choreographies.

About Tanztreffen der Jugend

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The application period has closed. The shortlist will be announced on 28 April.

Dance Productions, Talk &amp; Party

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Upcoming Events

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Guest performance by the National Youth Dance Company

The evening-length hip-hop production “Gravity” by the National Youth Dance Company (NYDC) with 33&nbsp;young dancers from all over England can be seen as a guest performance at the 12th&nbsp;Tanztreffen der Jugend on 28&nbsp;September 2025. The choreography for the project is by Boy Blue dance company, winners of the Sky Arts Award and the Olivier Award and led by Artistic Directors Michael “Mikey&nbsp;J” Asante and Kenrick “H2O” Sandy. “Gravity” is about the forces of attraction that connect people and create communities. Tickets will be available from 25&nbsp;July 2025 through the Berliner Festspiele webshop.The NYDC is a Sadler’s Wells project.&nbsp;<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:500px"> <tbody> <tr> <td><img alt="Logokombination Sadlers Wells und National Youth Dance Company" src="/magnoliaAuthor/dam/jcr:98a49db3-72c0-41eb-9ae1-a322857482bc/Sadlers_Wells_NYDC.png" style="height:34px; width:100px"></td> </tr> </tbody></table>

Gravity

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The next Tanztreffen der Jugend will take place from 26&nbsp;September to 2&nbsp;October 2026. Applications are possible until 8&nbsp;April 2026.&nbsp;The selection will be announced on 23 June 2026, advance ticket sales will start in July.

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Nick McDowell, Arts Council Of England’s Director of International:“Arts Council England is proud to support the first international performance by the National Youth Dance Company in September 2025. Based at Sadler’s Wells, the company exemplifies the best of young people’s dance, attracting talent from all over the country. They will perform in the iconic Berliner Festspiele Theatre as part of Tanztreffen der Jugend. Their visit follows performances by the German National Youth Orchestra across the UK in January 2025 augmenting cultural links between the UK and Germany ahead of the Germany-UK Treaty.”<table border="1" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="1" style="width:500px"> <tbody> <tr> <td>The guest performance is made possible by</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td><img alt="Logo Funded by UK Government" src="/magnoliaAuthor/dam/jcr:9416c940-6aec-4287-b19e-43b3a83d88f0/funded_by_uk_government.svg" style="height:27px; width:150px"></td> <td><img alt="Logo Arts Council England" src="/magnoliaAuthor/dam/jcr:b7e8e05f-824a-4c9b-8799-cac558c54e86/arts_council_england.svg" style="height:37px; width:150px"></td> </tr> </tbody></table>

&nbsp;A total of 62 ensembles from 16&nbsp;federal states applied with their works for the 13th&nbsp;Tanztreffen der Jugend. This year, the productions on the shotlist represent the full spectrum of production contexts within young dance-making. The nominated works include those from schools, independent theatre companies, municipal and state theatres, as well as dance schools and dance centres. In addition, this year saw a notable number of nominations from independent groups based in youth cultural institutions and socio-cultural centres, as well as self-initiated projects. In the first round, the <a href="${link:{uuid:{ba4af074-d395-4dff-8e1c-64e0b439f0df},repository:{website},path:{/bfs-de/treffen-junge-szene/tanztreffen-der-jugend/das-treffen/jury}}}">jury</a> selected 16&nbsp;productions and ensembles from 9&nbsp;federal states for the shortlist.

The Shortlist Has Been Finalised

The renowned <a href="https://www.sadlerswells.com/digital-stage/documentaries/national-youth-dance-company-in-berlin/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">National Youth Dance Company (NYDC)</a> joined the 12th Tanztreffen der Jugend with its first international guest performance Gravity. As part of the &Uuml;ber die Grenzen (Across Borders) format, 33 dancers aged 16 to 25 from across England presented an intense hip-hop production about gravity and community at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele.

Guest performance “Gravity” at Tanztreffen der Jugend 2025

“Gravity” by Sadler’s Wells

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The Tanztreffen der Jugend is part of the Treffen junge Szene of the Berliner Festspiele.<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:500px"> <tbody> <tr> <td><img alt="Logo Federal Ministry for Education, Familiy Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth" src="/magnoliaAuthor/dam/jcr:51a4da6e-1ea4-472b-88a9-8f6a9c961316/bundesministerium_fuer_bildung_familie_senioren_frauen_und_jugend_en_gefoerdert.svg" style="height:110px; width:308px"></td> </tr> </tbody></table>

It’s been ten years since the newly founded Tanztreffen der Jugend opened its doors for the first time in 2014. After celebrating the 10th anniversary edition last year, we are now looking forward with curiosity to the next decade of young dance at Berliner Festspiele. We want to remain curious and open, because it is the young choreographers and dancers who shape and develop the festival with their submitted works and their positions.We are delighted to present ten works by young dance makers selected by the jury. The content focuses on the themes of happiness and unhappiness, light and shadow, freedom and free spaces. We experience short episodes or entire life stories, sad as well as beautiful and hopeful ones. Dancing itself often becomes the theme of the works, as a fixed point and space of possibility for the young artists. Dance is a free space in which they can express themselves and breathe freely, which makes life bearable, provides breaks from pressure and crises, where comfort and happiness can be found. The initiative of young dance makers to create their own works remains strong.The youngest choreographer at the festival was twelve years old during the rehearsal process. In their works, the young artists explore the language of dance, move out of the comfort zone of what they have learnt and develop new qualities of movement. They search for their own biographies in dance, reflect on themselves and the medium or strive for a desexualisation of the bodies that connect in close contact. What does it mean to be normal, where is the depth in the case and what is authenticity? It is about self-determination, identity, the conquest of free spaces in a world that restricts them, but also about feminism, the destructive power of envy in society and frustration. Frustration about political events, the rise of the right wings, climate change, homelessness in the cities and the dictates of social media.The ensembles also integrate texts into their productions and work stylistically on the base of contemporary and urban dance. There are often combinations of styles such as hip-hop, popping, locking and house with contemporary elements. A lot of improvisation is used and there is a strong tendency to expand one's own repertoire of movements. For example, artistic elements are integrated, movements are characterised by the equipment and sounds become music.We are very happy to be able to set international dance impulses again this year as part of “&Uuml;ber die Grenzen” and to bring our award winners into dialogue with young Italian dance professionals. The DiDoDance Company from Rome will be performing their two-part work “Zuhause” on two evenings. I would like to expressly thank the artistic director Giusy Quattrone and the initiative of the Scuola Di Donato and the Parents' Association for making this guest performance possible. I would like to thank the esteemed jury of the Tanztreffen der Jugend for their passionate and committed work and the wonderful selection. I would also like to thank the Federal Ministry of Education and Research for their support in making the Tanztreffen der Jugend possible as a platform for young dance.We are very happy to be able to set international dance impulses again this year as part of “&Uuml;ber die Grenzen” and to bring our award winners into dialogue with young Italian dance professionals. The DiDoDance Company from Rome will be performing their two-part work “Zuhause” on two evenings. I would like to expressly thank the artistic director Giusy Quattrone and the initiative of the Scuola Di Donato and the Parents' Association for making this guest performance possible. I would like to thank the esteemed jury of the Tanztreffen der Jugend for their passionate and committed work and the wonderful selection. I would also like to thank the Bundesministerium f&uuml;r Bildung und Forschung for their support in making Tanztreffen der Jugend possible as a platform for young dance.My heartfelt thanks go to the Treffen junge Szene team and the Berliner Festspiele and all their staff for their support and commitment in making this festival a special experience for artists and visitors alike.&nbsp;Welcome dear dancers, delegates and guest ensembles, thank you for your stirring and moving work. Welcome dear audience!&nbsp; We look forward to “Flying High” together with you through a week of Tanztreffen der Jugend!“What if people who have overcome their envy can change our society for the better?” – Game of Survival“What makes me happy?” – Flying High

Susanne Chrudina (Head of Treffen junge Szene)

“When we dance, we rule over time and the earth stops spinning until we are finished. Dancing makes me feel so powerful, so big, so real.”&nbsp; — Lichtblicke“My frustration is killing me. (...) Not like this.” — FRUST

Freedom and Happiness

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Tanztreffen der Jugend 2023: Impressionen

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Tanztreffen der Jugend 2023

Impressions

When will the next entry period start for the Treffen junge Szene? Who is in the selection for the next festival and when will the dates for the programme be published? Sign up now and stay up to date with our newsletter!

Newsletter of the Treffen junge Szene

Chronik Tanztreffen der Jugend

All selected dance productions since 2014

Award Winners Tanztreffen der Jugend

“Dance promotes creativity, needs endurance and discipline, is joy in movement, can be pure happiness. For ten years now, the Tanztreffen der Jugend has been offering young talents the opportunity to live all this out. I congratulate them warmly! And wish all participants a week full of inspiration and artistic exchange.” — Dr Johanna B&ouml;rsch-Supan, Head of Department 3 - Education and Training; Lifelong Learning, Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)

10 Years of Tanztreffen der Jugend

Tanztreffen der Jugend: Imagefilm

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The selection will be announced on 23&nbsp;June.

The Tanztreffen der Jugend is part of the Treffen junge Szene of the Berliner Festspiele and is sponsored as a national contest by the Federal Ministry of Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMBFSFJ).<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:500px"> <tbody> <tr> <td><img alt="Logo Federal Ministry of Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth" src="/magnoliaAuthor/dam/jcr:f7a1889e-0ffe-4b3f-86d7-1dcf3b567c64/bundesministerium_fuer_bildung_familie_senioren_frauen_und_jugend_en.svg" style="height:75px; width:286px"></td> </tr> </tbody></table>

Apply with your dance project for the Tanztreffen der Jugend 2026.

We are looking for young dance enthusiasts:

The Forum will take place from 28 September to 2 Ocotber and is aimed at dancers, dance educators, choreographers and theater makers with dance experience.&nbsp;The Forum programme takes place entirely in German.

Forum 2025

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Tanztreffen der Jugend is an annual platform for young people whose form of creative expression is contemporary dance and an opportunity for them to present and develop their work. Participants are selected as part of a nationwide contest.

A total of 62 ensembles from 16&nbsp;federal states applied with their works for the 13th&nbsp;Tanztreffen der Jugend.We would like to thank all ensembles for the moving, powerful and captivating dance pieces they submitted. Through the medium of dance, they express what drives and inspires these young dance-makers.This year, the productions on the shotlist represent the full spectrum of production contexts within young dance-making. The nominated works include those from schools, independent theatre companies, municipal and state theatres, as well as dance schools and dance centres. In addition, this year saw a notable number of nominations from independent groups based in youth cultural institutions and socio-cultural centres, as well as self-initiated projects.In the first round, the <a href="${link:{uuid:{ba4af074-d395-4dff-8e1c-64e0b439f0df},repository:{website},path:{/bfs-de/treffen-junge-szene/tanztreffen-der-jugend/das-treffen/jury}}}">jury</a> selected the following 16&nbsp;productions and ensembles from 9&nbsp;federal states for the shortlist:&nbsp;XX ensembles from XX&nbsp;federal states submitted their works for the 13th&nbsp;Tanztreffen der Jugend. The dance productions in the interim selection were developed in different contexts. They were created at schools, independent theatres, municipal and state theatres, as part of independent groups in conjunction with associations, at dance houses or dance schools. This year, the <a href="${link:{uuid:{ba4af074-d395-4dff-8e1c-64e0b439f0df},repository:{website},path:{/bfs-de/treffen-junge-szene/tanztreffen-der-jugend/das-treffen/jury}}}">jury</a>&nbsp;was also pleased to receive applications from young dance professionals who have worked completely independently.

Festivals & Programme Series

Upcoming

The Berliner Festspiele organise a range of festivals and art exhibitions, concerts, dance and theatre performances, readings, lectures, debates and much more throughout the year. These events are presented at a range of locations across Berlin but are concentrated primarily at their own two venues: the Gropius Bau and the Haus der Berliner Festspiele.

Berliner Festspiele

The four meetings

Young theatre makers, dancers, musicians and authors are given a platform for their creative work at the four national contests of the Treffen junge Szene and are specifically supported in their artistic development.

The Tanztreffen der Jugend 2021 took place from 17 to 23 September 2021.

Programm 2018

2021

The public programme consisted of the selected productions as well as an extensive supporting programme.

Spielplan 2018

Programme Schedule

Programme Schedule 2018

Programm 2021

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Programme

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In 2026 the Berliner Festspiele celebrate their 75th anniversary. A selection of events programmed throughout the entire year engage take the anniversary as their theme or mark the occasion with works at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele, the Gropius Bau, the Philharmonie, on Berlin’s Ringbahn and at other locations in the city. Outstanding international that liberal societies and their cultural institutions face in a new, multipolar world order. artists such as Marina Abramović, Gabriele St&ouml;tzer and Akira Takayama will set the agenda both thematically and aesthetically. Entitled “Die gro&szlig;e Unordnung” (The Great Disorder), the four-day focus Reflexes &amp; Reflections will also enquire about the challenges.

75 Years of the Berliner Festspiele

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The massacre, hostage-taking and rocket attacks by Hamas have shaken us deeply. The grue-some attack on Israel on 7&nbsp;October left us stunned and initially lost for words.

The Berliner Festspiele on Current Events in Israel, Gaza and Germany

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With this letter of intent, we, the signing cultural organizations, express our intention to welcome, host and stage Ukrainian theatre artists in our venues, to make Ukrainian dramatic work visible to the European community.

Support of the Ukrainian Cultural Scene

More Berliner Festspiele

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The programme has been published, advance ticket sales are open.

Productions, Concert, Readings, Party

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103 ensembles from all 16&nbsp;federal states have submitted their productionsfor the 47th&nbsp;Theatertreffen der Jugend 2026. The focus is on the invited productions and exchange among young performers and their directors. The programme is published. Tickets are available.

Theatertreffen der Jugend

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In June 2026, Sasha Waltz &amp; Guests will be performing the productions Beethoven&nbsp;7 and In&nbsp;C at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele. Sasha Waltz &amp; Guests will also be staging a special evening to celebrate the 75th&nbsp;anniversary of the Goethe-Institut.

Sasha Waltz &amp; Guests

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In August 2026, the festival Tanz im August will return to the Haus der Berliner Festspiele with several productions. Tickets for Sounding Light are already available. The other productions will be published in June.

Tanz im August

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The full programme and tickets for all events of Musikfest Berlin are now available. In 2026, the festival also marks the 75th anniversary of the Berliner Festspiele and brings together leading international orchestras, renowned conductors and outstanding soloists in a diverse concert programme – ranging from opera productions to contemporary works, from Gy&ouml;rgy Ligeti’s grotesque humorous anti-opera Le Grand Macabre to George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess.

Musikfest Berlin