From first self organised Dance Training in the Blocks of East Germany to Choreography for Stage, Film, and Live Performance – My Artistic Journey

My artistic path as a choreographer has been shaped by a rich tapestry of cultural influences – from my roots in the new federal states of Germany to formative years spent in Algeria as a child. These early cross-cultural experiences deeply formed my creative language and continue to influence my choreographic voice today.

I began my professional dance journey in 1989 with my first training at the Dance Company of Petra Kibbel in Ilmenau. After completing high school in 1996, I pursued studies in Sports and History at the University of Erfurt before following my true calling: dance. In 1997, I became a mother of a son. A year later I began an intensive semester at the School for Contemporary Dance / Immo Birgit Buhl in Nuremberg – a pivotal moment that set the course for my professional career in performance and choreography.

Navigating life as a single parent and independent artist was not easy but shaped my resilience and deepened my artistic purpose. In 1999, I continued my education at the German Sport University in Cologne, a city whose thriving dance scene at that time inspired me to make it my home for the next two decades.

Developing a Distinct Choreographic Style

My choreographic identity evolved through international experiences and a deep curiosity for artistic cross-pollination. In 2002, I trained at The Edge in Los Angeles, and in 2003, I was a student at the Escola Contemporânea de Dança and danced at Escola de Dança Funceb Pelourinho in Salvador de Bahia/Brazil. These encounters left a lasting impression on my creative process, encouraging me to embrace the fusion of styles, cultures, and disciplines using Dance as a language.

Throughout the following years, I worked as a freelance dancer and choreographer on a wide range of projects across stage, television, film, and fashion. My focus became choreography, and I also began taking on directional roles in stage productions, combining visual storytelling, movement design, and emotional narrative into unified performance concepts.

Choreography Across Mediums: Stage, Film, Fashion, and Television

In 2005, I founded Hot Per Suit, a talent development platform in Cologne, and began teaching performance and choreography at the Deutsche Pop Academy. Two years later, I opened MADCITY Cologne, a dance studio that played a key role in shaping the city’s urban dance landscape.

Between 2007 and 2015, I choreographed over 60 live productions for TV, fashion shows, theater, and commercial campaigns. My work is marked by versatility and adaptability across different artistic mediums.

Selected Choreographic Highlights:

  • Station X - Experience (Halle 550, Zürich, 2024) – combining choreography and stage direction, Immersive Dance Theater

  • REDKEN “Get Inspired” (Mercedes Benz Arena, Berlin, 2023) – combining choreography and stage direction for Hair Fashion Show with Showparts

  • "Snowhite – The Rock Musical" (Opera Bonn, 2012) – combining choreography and stage direction

  • "The Others" (Cologne Kulturbunker, 2014) – Choreography for contemporary dance theater

  • "We Don’t Have To Do Anything" (Cologne, 2018) – critically acclaimed performance piece

  • "Mystic Journey" (Erzstift Cologne, 2022) – choreography for a spiritual stage production

  • Big Live shows for German Television, including the German Television Award, German Idol, The Supertalent Germany.

  • Campaign choreography for brands like L’OREAL, DIESEL, NIKE, ASICS, NOKIA, VW, and PORSCHE

  • Fashion presentations during Berlin Fashion Week

Artistic Approach: Interdisciplinary Fusion

My choreographic work is grounded in curiosity, emotional nuance, and the interplay between movement and meaning. I prioritize expressive individuality over rigid technique, focusing on the transformative power of dance across stage and screen.

In 2015, I began integrating yoga into my choreographic methodology, leading to the development of BUDY Flow – a training approach that fuses dance, movement research, and mindfulness. With support from the German Cultural Foundation in 2021, I conducted in-depth research into the technique, and I am currently authoring a nonfiction book on the subject.

India, Immersion & Artistic Expansion

Since 2015, I’ve been actively engaged in the Indian art and dance scene, working with platforms such as Jungle Dance Theatre (Goa), Vinyasa Dance Ashram (Jaipur), and PlayPractice (Bangalore). These collaborations continue to fuel my exploration of cultural diversity, improvisation, and embodied storytelling.

New Foundations and Artistic Collectives

In 2019, I inherited a historic half-timbered house in Ilmenau, which has since become both my living and working space. Since 2020, I’ve been primarily based between Ilmenau and Berlin.

In 2023, I founded The NOWbodies, a contemporary dance collective focused on immersive, interdisciplinary performances. That same year, I joined the Dream Scapers Artist Collective, where I collaborate on experimental stage productions that combine choreography with conceptual direction.

REFERENCES

FILM & TV

  • Dr. Nice, ZDF

    Choreography, Movement Coaching

  • ARTE Doku “Music Scene Berlin”
    Artist support

  • Entführen für Anfänger
    Choreografie, Movement Coaching

  • Unsere wunderbaren Jahre
    Choreography, Coaching

  • Too Early o’clock (artistic Short Movie Production)
    Choreography, Concept

  • Mein Lotta-Leben
    Choreography, Coaching

  • Liliane Susewind
    Choreography

  • Siegfried

    Movement Coaching Tom gerhard

  • Alles was zählt, RTL
    Resident choreography and artist booking "Steinkamp Dance Company"

  • Deutscher Fernsehpreis 2011 Openingshow, RTL
    Choreography and artist booking

  • Deutschland sucht den Superstar (Staffeln 7, 8, 9), RTL
    Resident choreography, coaching and artist booking

  • Das Supertalent (2010, 2011, 2012), RTL
    Resident choreography, coaching and artist booking

  • „WETTEN DASS?“ ZDF
    Choreography and artist booking

  • Danny Lowinsky, SAT.1
    Coaching und Choreography

  • THE DOME, RTL2
    Choreography and artist booking

  • ZDF Fernsehgarten, ZDF
    Choreography and artist booking

  • TAFF, PRO7
    Model in 1 Day Jury

  • Mein Mann Kann, SAT.1
    Choreography and artist booking

BRANDS & PRODUCTS

  • Lavera TV Commercial
    Choreography and artist booking

  • Lichtfaktor, Multi Media Live Performances
    Choreography and artist booking

  • AUDI Commercial
    Choreography and dance performance

  • Metten Commercial "RUN"
    Choreography and artist booking

  • VW GOLF Launch Show 2013
    Choreography and artist booking

  • Californian Products
    Training DVD, concept, realisation and artist booking

  • HYUNDAY Launch Show 2011
    Choreography and artist booking

Art Projects

  • The NOWbodies - Contemporary Collective for immersive Performance & Dance Berlin
    Creative Direction, Choreography

  • Too Early o’clock (artistic Short Movie Production)
    Choreography, Concept

  • Garbage Catwalk 2023

    Choreography & Performance, Sustainability Art Project by Alice Francis, Berlin

  • Jungle Dance Theatre, Arambol, Goa, India
    Creative Direction, Choreography, Performance

  • Rejoint a mystic Journey 2019-2022

    Choreography

  • Interplay Play Practice Artist Resisdeny BAngalore/India

  • Dream Scapers Artist Dinner “Dreaming 1/2/3” at Dock11/ Berlin

  • Snowhite, Musical Oper Bonn
    Choreography and artist booking

  • “Wir müssen gar nix”, Female Flow Ensemble Köln
    Choreography

  • Die Anderen, Educational Youth Theatre Project
    Choreography
    Read more at http://kulturbunker-muelheim.de

  • Classic meets HipHop, Educational Youth Theatre Project, Musikschule Brühl
    Choreography
    Read more at http://www.ksta.de

  • Perfection in Non-Perfection, Alte Feuerwache, Köln
    Art Exhibition and Performance

  • OFF ROAD, stage performance
    Choreography

  • ONE, MADCITY DANCE COMPANY
    Choreography

  • MY BELOVED DANCING SOUL
    Choreography & Performance

  • NOW WHAT?!
    Choreography & Performance

  • Wings of Death
    Choreography

  • El Desierto

    Choreography & Performance

MUSICVIDEOS & ARTIST SUPPORT

  • ALICE FRANCIS

    Beatptized MusicVideoChoreography, Performance

  • RAYNOVACANE

    Sweet Liar Choreography

  • Psaiko Dino, GHETTO GRAMMAR feat. BEENIE MAN & JUGGLERZ-

    “Take dat anthem” Choreography and artist booking

  • Alice Francis - Dear Love 2016 + Music Video
    Choreography and performance

  • Alexandra Stan - Mr. Saxobeat, Bühnenperformance
    Choreography and artist booking

  • Jimmy Sommerville, Bühnenperformance
    Choreography and artist booking

  • Dima (Die Außenseiter) - Push mal nicht so
    Choreography and artist booking

  • Mark Medlock - Real Love, Bühnenperformance
    Choreography and artist booking

  • Jessica Wahls & Frank Nimsgern - Reach out your hand, Musik Video
    Choreography and artist booking

  • Levthand - Cadillac Track, Musik Video
    Choreography and artist booking

  • Liz Kay - True Faith, Musik Video
    Choreography and artist booking

  • Aniko Kanthak - Die Zeit, Bühnenperformance + Musik Video
    Choreography and artist booking

  • J-DA - Rocca Chocola, 3D Musik Video
    Choreography and artist booking

  • Djane Housecat - My Party, stage performance
    Choreography

FASHION

  • REDKEN, Get inspired Berlin 2023
    Choreography, Stage Direction and artist booking

  • L'OREAL Professional
    Choreography and artist booking

  • NIKE "The World of Dance"
    Choreography and artist booking

  • NIKE "Olympia Collection"
    Choreography and artist booking

  • ASICS "Urban Collection"
    Choreography

  • Porsche Fashion Retais Show
    Assistant Choreography

  • SNIPES "Urban Dance Show"
    Choreography and artist booking

  • REDKEN (since 2009)
    Choreography and artist booking

  • I LOVE FASION, Catwalk Event
    Choreography and artist booking

  • J.7 Citybeats Tour 2012
    Choreography and artist booking