New dance network: Tie Break” brings a breath of fresh air to Stralsund!

New dance network: Tie Break” brings a breath of fresh air to Stralsund!

The dance scene in Northern Germany is currently experiencing an exciting phase. On July 11th, 2025, the nationwide explore dance network, which is intensively committed to dance for young audiences, proudly announced that two new partners, the Künstler*innenhaus Mousonturm and Perform[d]ance in Stralsund, have joined. This will expand the representation of East German federal states to three cities – Potsdam, Dresden and Stralsund. This network has been dedicated to promoting and disseminating contemporary dance for children and young people for seven years, and these new additions further enrich the cultural offering, especially in times when there is often a lack of such oriented events.

The new mobile pop-up production “Tie Break” by Constantin Trommlitz is currently on the program at Kampnagel in Hamburg. The choreographer with in-depth training in breakdancing takes the audience into a world that depicts internal and external struggles through impressive dance techniques. Combining breakdancing, popping, and contemporary and Latin American styles, “Tie Break” brings together dancers Victor Karwath, Marino Ariza, and Alanna Reimpell Bravo in alternating 2:1 combinations to increase the intensity of their performances.

The fight in dance

The production uses the principle of the dance battle to illustrate the pressure of self-expression and the freedom from it. A rectangular metal frame in the room symbolizes the mania for external perfection, while the performance itself shows the audience their own vulnerability. Despite virtuoso dance steps, the dancers' laughter often fades away quickly, leaving room for serious reflections. The moving hugs at the end of the performance are all about community and overcoming inner struggles.

The school performances of “Tie Break” are already the subject of great anticipation, as a dance encore is celebrated for the young people and presents the success of explore dance's work in a new light. The network has fought hard for sustainable funding in recent years, but is now looking optimistically to the future with an expanded repertoire and new partners.

The dance is changing

But what does the growing attention to dance mean for young audiences? Important questions were discussed at a symposium on the location and networking of this sector in Germany. More and more choreographers are showing interest in this target group, which is reflected in a continuous increase in performances. However, it is clear that this field has not yet developed as an independent branch alongside established dance and children's and youth theater. There are unclear requirements for production companies in the area of ​​dance for young audiences that must be taken into account when funding.

The symposium brought together important voices from the cultural scene, including experts such as Teresa Darian from the Federal Cultural Foundation and Gabi dan Droste from FELD – Theater for Young Audiences. Moderator Elena Philipp led the discussions, while movement impulses were given by Florian Bilbao. The participants discussed the definition of their own category as well as the possibilities for better networking and collaboration in the field of dance for young people.

The development of dance for young audiences shows that there is not only potential here, but also challenges. The main focus is on the lack of uniformity in the funding structures and the inadequate awareness of the importance of dance in the context of cultural education. This makes the activities of the explore dance network all the more important, bringing a breath of fresh air into the northern German dance landscape with new partners and an exciting performance like “Tie Break”.