17.12.2026—21.12.2026
Hopepunk
Venue:
Radialsystem (Saal)
Tickets:
Pay what you can (10/15/20/25)
Duration:
approx. 60 Min
Dates:
Info:
Following the performance on Saturday, 19 December, there will be an artist talk.
Description
What if joy were our most powerful form of resistance? What if we understood dance as an act of radical hope, embracing rather than fighting our exhaustion, rage and grief? “Hopepunk” is a
performance by choreographer Julia B. Laperrière, in which four dancers and a musician explore the question of how our increasing apathy, loneliness and fear can be confronted with sweat, rhythm and vulnerability. It premieres in Radialsystem in December: a choreographic manifesto, celebrating joy as an act of resistance.
Sweating bodies meet on stage, moving in and out of time, failing, and looking for connection all over again. Inspired by hybrid movement practices from club culture, groove, and somatic approaches, a dynamic interplay between individual experience and communal action unfolds. “Hopepunk” conceptualises dance as a shared resource and an embodied strategy for joyful protest and collective care. In this way, hope becomes an active practice that can be cultivated together.
“Hopepunk” is presented at Radialsystem as part of the :LOVE: cooperation between Tanzfabrik Berlin and Radialsystem. “Radialsystem ♥ Tanzfabrik” is an initiative specifically designed to improve conditions for dance professionals.
Following the performance on Saturday, 19 December, there will be an artist talk.
Following the performance on Saturday, 19 December, there will be an artist talk.
Credits
Concept and Choreography: Julia B. Laperrière
Co-choreography and performance: Florencia Martina, Soroa Lear, Phoenix Chase-Meares, Alen Nsambu
Sound & Performance: Pia Achternkamp
Lighting and Set Design: Sandra E. Blatterer
Costume: Cristina Nyffeler
Outside Eye: Siegmar Zacharias
Rehearsal Director: Rachell Bo Clark
Production: Paula Häfele
Distribution: Astrid Rostaing
Audio Description and Haptic Access Tour: Swantje Henke
A production by Julia B. Laperrière in co-production with Radialsystem and Tanzfabrik, with support from Diorama – Jefta van Dinther. Funded by the Berlin Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion, the Fonds Darstellende Künste with funds from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, and the Radial Foundation.
Special thanks to Nicole Schuchardt, Nica Berndt-Caccivio, Rayne, and Ewa Dziarnowska for Exercising Joy; to the students of the TanzIntensiv Program for their inspiration, trust, and willingness to experiment; to Ghyslaine Gau for helping to liberate the pelvis; and to the entire Radialsystem team for their unwavering support and enthusiasm.
Biographies
Julia B. Laperrière
Julia B. Laperrière is French-Canadian choreographer and performer based in Berlin, and working between Germany, France and Canada. As such, the mix of practices, languages and genres (both artistic and identity related) form an integral part of Julia’s practice. Laperrière has studied dance in Montreal and Mexico and holds an MA in choreography from Master Exerce/ICI-CCN in Montpellier (FR). Working from a queer feminist perspective, Julia is interested in a dance that is generous, lately looking at dangerous dances and possibilities for new intimacies. Julia’s latest works (Falla, Falla VR, Swivel Open and Dangereuses) are currently touring in Germany, France, Canada and Norway. Laperrière has also taught in various places, including the CCN d’Orléans, Tanzfabrik Berlin, Radialsystem, Master Exerce (Université Paul-Valéry) and the University of Osnabrück. Since 2023, Julia is a board member of Zeitgenössischer Tanz Berlin e.V., where their volunteer work focuses on issues fundamental to the artistic milieu: precariousness as a condition of artistic work, political representation, reform of the subsidy system, accessibility, mediation, collaboration between institutions and the dissemination of dance.
Alen Nsambu
Alen Nsambu (b. 1998) is a Helsinki-based choreographer and performer holding a B.A. in Dance and Choreography. Alen Nsambu collaborates internationally with artists such as Alma Söderberg, Sonya Lindfors, Marie Topp, WAUHAUS, and Young Boy Dancing Group, and has performed at venues including the Finnish National Theatre and the Helsinki City Theatre. At the center of Alen Nsambu's artistic practice lies the question of how varying degrees of visibility, opacity, and transparency are granted to different bodies. Nsambu was selected as one of the Aerowaves Twenty25 Artists.
Soroa Lear
Soroa Lear is a queer Cuban-American dancer, performer, and writer who views performance as an opportunity to break hearts and make people laugh. She is interested in storytelling, camp, and absurdity. Lear has worked with the Staatsoper Berlin, Deva Schubert, Sebastian Abarbanell, Aru Ray Tormann, and Wojciech Kosma, among others. She has performed at Schwankhalle Bremen, Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlinische Galerie, Sophiensæle, as well as in numerous Berlin nightclubs. Soroa regularly hosts karaoke nights at Neukölln's Tennis Bar.
Phoenix Chase-Meares
Phoenix Chase-Meares is a non-binary, trans-queer artist from the UK. Chase-Meares writes, directs, and devises theater and film productions across Europe, South Africa, and Latin America that merge dance, theater, drag, and rave culture. As a co-founder of The Soul Sauna, Phoenix Chase-Meares organizes events centered around Black and queer community. At the heart of their artistic work lies the commitment to bringing stories to light and sharing a philosophy of joy and gentleness.
Florencia Martina
Florencia Martina works with movement as well as printmaking, drawing, and textiles. She holds a B.A. in Contemporary Dance and an M.A. in Scenography. As a dancer and performer, she collaborates with companies including United-C. Additionally, she has been involved in choreographies by Doris Uhlich, Joan Jonas, Esther Siddiqui, BodyTalk, Sandra Man and Moritz Majce, Rick Nodine, Igor & Moreno, Clement Layes, Anders Duckworth, Protein Dance, José Vidal, Annelie André, and Julia Färber.
Pia Achternkamp (loh)
Pia Achternkamp (loh) is a composer, sound artist, and multi-instrumentalist. Her artistic practice operates at the intersections of music, performing arts, language, and visual art. Achternkamp understands sound as a time-based medium and usually performs her music live and improvised in collaboration with performers. Furthermore, her artistic fascination lies in radio art, exploring experimental radio formats across Cashmere Radio, Nomadic Radio, and Radio Relativa.
Alen Nsambu (b. 1998) is a Helsinki-based choreographer and performer holding a B.A. in Dance and Choreography. Alen Nsambu collaborates internationally with artists such as Alma Söderberg, Sonya Lindfors, Marie Topp, WAUHAUS, and Young Boy Dancing Group, and has performed at venues including the Finnish National Theatre and the Helsinki City Theatre. At the center of Alen Nsambu's artistic practice lies the question of how varying degrees of visibility, opacity, and transparency are granted to different bodies. Nsambu was selected as one of the Aerowaves Twenty25 Artists.
Soroa Lear
Soroa Lear is a queer Cuban-American dancer, performer, and writer who views performance as an opportunity to break hearts and make people laugh. She is interested in storytelling, camp, and absurdity. Lear has worked with the Staatsoper Berlin, Deva Schubert, Sebastian Abarbanell, Aru Ray Tormann, and Wojciech Kosma, among others. She has performed at Schwankhalle Bremen, Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlinische Galerie, Sophiensæle, as well as in numerous Berlin nightclubs. Soroa regularly hosts karaoke nights at Neukölln's Tennis Bar.
Phoenix Chase-Meares
Phoenix Chase-Meares is a non-binary, trans-queer artist from the UK. Chase-Meares writes, directs, and devises theater and film productions across Europe, South Africa, and Latin America that merge dance, theater, drag, and rave culture. As a co-founder of The Soul Sauna, Phoenix Chase-Meares organizes events centered around Black and queer community. At the heart of their artistic work lies the commitment to bringing stories to light and sharing a philosophy of joy and gentleness.
Florencia Martina
Florencia Martina works with movement as well as printmaking, drawing, and textiles. She holds a B.A. in Contemporary Dance and an M.A. in Scenography. As a dancer and performer, she collaborates with companies including United-C. Additionally, she has been involved in choreographies by Doris Uhlich, Joan Jonas, Esther Siddiqui, BodyTalk, Sandra Man and Moritz Majce, Rick Nodine, Igor & Moreno, Clement Layes, Anders Duckworth, Protein Dance, José Vidal, Annelie André, and Julia Färber.
Pia Achternkamp (loh)
Pia Achternkamp (loh) is a composer, sound artist, and multi-instrumentalist. Her artistic practice operates at the intersections of music, performing arts, language, and visual art. Achternkamp understands sound as a time-based medium and usually performs her music live and improvised in collaboration with performers. Furthermore, her artistic fascination lies in radio art, exploring experimental radio formats across Cashmere Radio, Nomadic Radio, and Radio Relativa.