On 29 August 2026, the Kreativ.Quartier Essen City-Nord will be transformed into a vibrant trail of dance, music and social interaction. “Dance with us!” invites local residents, visitors and passers-by to experience the creative diversity of dance in public spaces – together, in the moment and free of charge. Professional choreographers from Essen specialising in urban dance and contemporary dance will work with local groups, clubs and initiatives to develop short pop-up choreographies and mini-workshops. The individual shows will come together to form a route through the neighbourhood, transforming squares, streets and paths into spaces for movement, exchange and social interaction.

Artistic Directors: Cinthia Nisiyama and Bianca Sere Pulungan

Dancers: Johann-Josef, Juanita, Josefine, Gudrun, Erhard, Rosemarie, Hannelore, Elisabeth, Edeltraut, Cinthia and Bianca

Musician: Miguel Martin Casais

Two years ago, Cinthia Nisiyama and Bianca Pulungan set up the senior citizens’ dance group at the Gerhard-Kersting-Haus, a care home in the heart of Essen. Since then, the two passionate dance teachers have been dancing with the residents once a week.

Residents of the home and people from the supported living scheme find a community here where everyone brings their own story – Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s or other limitations are no barrier. When the music starts, differences fade into the background. Through dancing, connections are formed, trust is built, and a sense of light-heartedness and joie de vivre emerges. Together, they move, laugh, discover new forms of expression and experience unforgettable moments. Joint performances and theatre visits reflect this vibrant community. Dancing shows that age or physical condition are no barriers – everyone can experience the joy of movement, music and community. Together, they savour the moment, connect with one another and celebrate life in all its facets.

Supported by the Anneliese Brost Foundation / Thanks to Claudia Wenzel and Elena Martin for their fantastic support.

• Bianca Sere Pulungan, born in Indonesia in 1984, is a dancer, choreographer and dance educator. From 2006 to 2009, she studied dance at the Folkwang University of the Arts. Since 2012, she has been working as a dance educator on numerous dance projects with schools and institutions, including the Ruhr Piano Festival and Musiktheater Gelsenkirchen. The experience gained from her work has led to residencies focused on the further development of teaching methods and community projects with partners such as the Academy for Cultural Education in Remscheid, Maschinenhaus Essen and Pact Zollverein. She has been a member of the ensemble performing:group since 2017 and has taken part in numerous productions with partners such as the Tanzhaus NRW in Düsseldorf, the Comedia Theatre in Cologne and the Feldtheater in Berlin, and has collaborated with choreographers such as Raymond Liew (Hamburg) and Marie Lena Kaiser (Essen).
  
• Cinthia Nisiyama began her dance training in classical ballet. In 1997, she was awarded a scholarship to the Vienna State Ballet. From 2002 onwards, she worked with renowned international contemporary choreographers and gained experience in Brazilian dance companies such as Companhia de Danças de Diadema and P.U.L.T.S. Cinthia has lived in Essen since 2005 and works as a dancer, choreographer and dance educator. In 2015, she founded the group Moneka with the musician Miguel Martin. Since 2021, she has been working as a dance educator in priority neighbourhoods such as Duisburg-Marxloh as part of the Education Department of the Klavier-Festival Ruhr. Collaboration with Maschinenhaus Essen and the Toboso group as a performer, dance educator and choreographer.
  
• Miguel Martin Casais is a self-taught musician. He founded Stoneage, played in cover bands and has been working freelance in Essen’s independent arts scene since 2015 – as a composer and musician for stage projects. Together with Cinthia Nisiyama, he founded the Moneka Theater group and composes music for dance theatre pieces for young audiences, including "Die Zauberpuppe", "Sadaqua" and "Wörterfabrik", which were presented at Maschinenhaus Essen.

Choreography: Cheng Yang Peng

Assistant Choreographer: Hannah Vormstein

Dancers: Viet-Ruhr-Kreis e.V.

Together with the choreographer Cheng-Yang Peng, Viet-Ruhr-Kreis e.V. developed a choreographic piece based on the participants’ shared practice of tai chi. Flowing movements and moments of stillness bring both a sense of community and individual presence into equal focus.

Whilst the group acts as a single unit, individual participants repeatedly step forward, offering a personal insight into their stories and personalities. The performance tells a story of solidarity, connection and belonging, and allows the audience to experience how movement brings people together.

• Cheng-Yang Peng is a freelance choreographer based in Germany and a graduate of the Folkwang University of the Arts. He has collaborated with the Aalto Ballett Essen and Theater Hagen, and performed at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. Influenced by Ekman, Bausch and Goecke, his choreography combines precision, dynamic physicality and energetic playfulness. Since 2025, he has been focusing on his own creations and premiered the duet ‘Skepticist’ as part of the dance platform somebody@maschinenhaus, as well as the solo ‘Two Relationships’ at the International Solo Dance Theatre Festival in Stuttgart, where the work was awarded a choreography prize. https://chengyangpeng.com/
• Hanna Vormstein studied dance at the Folkwang University of the Arts from 2015 to 2020. She subsequently worked as a dance teacher and performer, including on socio-artistic dance theatre projects, for example with the Gelsenkirchen Girls’ Centre. She has taught at various dance schools and has experience teaching children, young people, adults and older women. At the same time, she works in a psychotherapy practice and is studying psychology.
• Viet Ruhr Kreis e.V. (Vietnamese Friendship Circle in the Ruhr Region) is a non-profit cultural association based in Essen, which promotes Vietnamese culture and fosters intercultural exchange. Most recently, the founder, Thuy Vo, took part in the Polymer-DMT production ‘Home away from home’ by Fang Yun Lo (2021). Every Sunday from 11.00 am, the association offers a varied programme at the Villa Rü Community Centre in Essen-Rüttenscheid: Language support: Vietnamese and German courses. Culture & tradition: celebrations such as the Tet Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival, as well as lantern-making. Sport & relaxation: yoga, tai chi, dance and other activities.
  Contact: Ms Thuy Vo: vietruhrkreis@gmail.com.
  Viet Ruhr Kreis e.V. Facebook group
  Viet Ruhr Kreis e.V. Instagram profile.

Artistic Director: Eloisa Mirabassi

Dancers from Dintje Dance Junior: Nilay, Giovanna, Theresa, Luise, Binette & Olivia

The choreography was developed by Eloisa Mirabassi in collaboration with the dancers from Dintje Dance Junior. It is the second piece in a planned series that explores themes relevant to teenagers and young adults. Dintje Dance Junior’s new production explores the consequences of human greed and social injustice for our planet. The piece draws parallels between the vital functions of the human body and those of the Earth – and shows what happens when this balance is disrupted. The piece depicts the Earth’s retaliation against human greed – as pure life force. At the end of the dance piece, set to the music of ‘Teardrop’ by Massive Attack, the heart keeps beating!

Dintje Dance Junior is a project that aims to inspire young people interested in dance to embrace contemporary dance. Through regular professional training with various tutors, participants discover the diversity of contemporary dance and continually develop their dancing skills. In various productions and performances, they have the opportunity to contribute their own themes and ideas. At the same time, they gain stage experience and develop both artistically and personally.

Eloisa Mirabassi is a choreographer, dance teacher and cultural manager. Following her career as a professional dancer, she increasingly shifted her focus to choreography, dance education and the development of her own artistic projects. In 2014, she founded the dance company Dintje Dance, through which she makes contemporary dance accessible to a wide audience in a variety of ways. She develops and leads dance education projects for people of all ages and is the artistic director of the Essenziale Festival as well as an annual children’s and youth dance festival. A particular focus of her artistic work is the combination of improvised live music and dance. In this context, she regularly collaborates as a dancer with musicians from a variety of genres. In addition, Eloisa Mirabassi works as a dance teacher at the Folkwang Music School in Essen.

www.eloisamirabassi.com

Choreography: Murat Alkan

Dancers from Weberplatz Community Centre

Murat brings many years of experience working with a wide variety of people. He has led dance and movement projects in schools, youth centres, dance schools and many other settings, and works with people of all ages and with different backgrounds. His workshops combine elements of urban dance styles, improvisation and body awareness, and are always tailored to the participants. Together with participants from the Weberplatz Community Centre, we’ll explore all the different ways movement can be expressed – and what they find exciting.

• Murat Alkan (born in Berlin in 1989) is a dancer, choreographer and dance teacher. After completing his Bachelor’s degree in Dance at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen (2011–2015), he went on to complete a Master’s degree in Dance Composition there, specialising in choreography, which he finished in 2018. Since then, he has been a permanent member of a dance theatre ensemble and regularly works on productions that bring together dance, music and drama.
• In addition, he continues to develop his skills through workshops, seminars and international projects. Since 2025, he has also been teaching dance for the City of Duisburg. In his artistic and educational work, Murat Alkan combines contemporary dance with urban dance styles such as hip-hop, breaking and other forms of street and club dance, as well as methods of body awareness and improvisation. He has worked with people from a wide variety of backgrounds – in schools, youth centres, dance schools and cultural projects – and creates spaces where everyone, regardless of age, background, gender, religion or disability, can explore movement in their own way. The joy of movement is at the heart of his teaching. He encourages young people to become more aware of their bodies, to unleash their creativity and to build self-confidence through dance. In doing so, he not only teaches various dance techniques but also demonstrates how movement brings people together and brings cultural diversity to life.
• Weberplatz Community Centre, an intergenerational centre run by the City of Essen (operated by the Youth Welfare Office). It serves as a vibrant meeting place and cultural hub for everyone in the neighbourhood – from children and families to adults of all ages. In addition to creative and leisure activities, the centre provides an important point of contact for free advice and support with everyday life. For families and children: parent-child groups, open parents’ breakfasts, craft and play sessions, as well as holiday programmes, cultural and hands-on projects (e.g. as part of the ‘Kulturrucksack NRW’ scheme). Advice & Support: General social advice, help with filling in forms, and free legal advice on social welfare law. Community: Open get-togethers for the neighbourhood and regular cultural events.
  Further information and the current monthly programme:
  www.essen.de/weberplatz

Choreography: Souhail Jalti

Performers: Urban Dance Department

Dynamic and high-energy urban dance with a focus on hip-hop and popping. Powerful choreography blends with creative freestyle moments, precise technique and expressive performance. The show combines groove, musicality and the characteristic movements of hip-hop with the unique effects and illusions of popping. With plenty of energy, team spirit and stage presence, the result is a performance that authentically brings the diversity and fascination of urban dance culture to the stage.

• Souhail Saif-Eddine Jalti is a dancer, choreographer and cultural mediator with Moroccan roots, based in Essen. He has been dedicated to dance since the age of 14 and has developed a unique style in urban and illusory forms of movement. As a multiple German and European champion, he has performed on international stages, directed theatre productions and developed innovative show concepts. As founder and managing director of the Urban Dance Department in Essen and Dortmund, as well as chairman of the Zentrum urbaner Tanzkunst e.V., he is committed to promoting and raising the profile of urban dance culture. He works at the intersection of art, education and cultural policy to create sustainable structures for urban dance projects. His commitment enables children, young people and those with a migrant background to access dance as a means of personal development. Alongside his educational and organisational work, he is active as a choreographer and artistic director. Through his network within the urban dance scene and with cultural and educational institutions, he actively contributes to the professional development of urban dance culture. His aim is to establish urban dance as an art form in its own right and as an educational platform, and to inject new impetus into the dance landscape across generations. At the same time, he advocates for fairer funding opportunities for dancers in the urban dance scene.
• The Urban Dance Department in Essen is a studio for urban and contemporary dance styles right in the city centre. Founded by the dancer Souhail Jalti, the dance school offers a varied programme of classes for children, teenagers and adults – from beginners to advanced dancers. The programme includes styles such as hip-hop, commercial, popping, breakdance, dancehall and contemporary. In addition to the weekly course schedule, the studio is characterised by a strong community, as well as regular workshops with guest tutors and special themed weeks. www.urbandancedepartment.de