Treffen junge Szene
Dance
touch_taff
Inclusive youth dance project of the Theater und Orchester Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg
Ensemble touch_taff © Susanne Reichardt
How do young people today find ways to remain gentle and hopeful while also becoming tough enough to face a world lurching from one crisis to the next? How can they choose cooperation over competition? Connection over isolation? What gives strength? What gives hope? And can all of this coexist not at the expense of others?
“touch_taff” is a piece about solidarity in times of crisis. It speaks of the power that emerges from an empowering community, of raging together so as not to sink alone into hopelessness in a complex and demanding world. But it also tells of the difficulties that come with building such a community: that inclusion is neither simple nor idyllic; that it requires compromise, confronts exclusion, and brings power dynamics to the surface. Sometimes, some must carry more so that others may dance freely.
It is about the challenge of giving space to all needs and forms of expression equally and about how painful it can be to accept the radical differences of others. A rope is stretched between vulnerability and strength, between “touch” and “tough”, and balancing on it is no easy task. How strong do you have to be to allow yourself to be tender? The diverse ensemble wrestles with these questions, gives them form, and invites the audience into a shared experience – one that feels deeply relevant in these special times.
“touch_taff” is the first inclusive dance production of the Tanzbiennale Heidelberg. In this piece, 15 young people with and without disabilities dream, rage, doubt, and hope together. With their minds, their hearts, and their bodies, they shape and share their stories – through dance, through music, and on stage, as one.
Jury Statement by Carmen Scarano and Aliyye Sahin
The performers of the youth dance project at Theater und Orchester Heidelberg have created a deeply impactful work of art shaped with remarkable dedication, creativity, and heart. These young artists have taken on profound and universally relevant themes: positivity in times of crisis, strength and tenderness, cooperation versus competition, and the power of connection over isolation.
With their dance piece “touch_taff”, they have crafted a powerful message: it is possible to unite resilience with vulnerability, to find hope, and to imagine solutions together. They show us that solidarity, mutual support, and open collaboration are vital paths through challenging times – even when the weight of the world feels heavy. They succeed not only in reflecting complex social issues through dance, but also in offering new perspectives that are both emotionally moving and thought-provoking.
This group stands for inclusion, for a world in which everyone belongs. They demonstrate how diversity enriches the artistic process and how collective creativity generates strength. Their commitment is a shining example of how art can build bridges, foster human connection, and offer hope.
Thank you for this work, for your courage and your creativity. Your performance did more than move us – it inspired us. It reminded us that art is a language that needs no words. You are an inspiring example of how young people can expand the horizons of the dance world and can help to shape a more compassionate and understanding society beyond it.
With
Angela Blum, Anouk Emschermann, Johanna Folger, Vincent Gehlen, Citlali Hol Kieslich, Zoe Janson, Sofia Kuznetsova, Julia Lindenau, Karla Ohlmeier, Clara Rocholz, Arthur Rose, Karolin Schikore, Emilia Speck, Elisabeth Ströber, Fabian Ströber
Corinna Clack, Gaëlle Morello, Jona Oldenburg – concept, artistic direction, choreography, stage design
Jutta Glaser, Cordula Reiner-Wormit – composition
Jutta Glaser, Cordula Reiner-Wormit, Cris Gavazzoni, Matthias Debus – live music
Matthias Jacob-Burger – costume
Jonah Fellhauer – lighting design
Andreas Schulz – technical direction Heidelberg
A production by Theater und Orchester Heidelberg / Dance Theatre Heidelberg for the Tanzbiennale Heidelberg 2025.
With kind support from the Lamy Kulturstiftung, the Friederike-Lehrnickel-Stiftung and the Karin und Uwe Hollweg Stiftung.