From September 17 to 20, 2026, we’ll be celebrating the first edition of the CONNECT Community Arts Festival at the ehrenfeldstudios. For four days, we’ll be hosting workshops, jam sessions, and an open performance workshop. Everyone is welcome to participate—regardless of prior dance experience!
The CONNECT Festival builds on our Community Arts Project from last year: Over the past 12 months, eight workshops for different target groups have taken place at ehrenfeldstudios, led by professional dance artists from North Rhine-Westphalia. Each workshop was tailored to a specific group: families, children and teens, mixed-ability groups, the LGBTQIA* community, people over 55, and people with a migration background.
The festival builds on this: All workshops will be offered again and warmly welcome both former participants and newcomers. The focus is on curiosity, openness, and the joy of dancing together.
A special highlight is the open jam session on Saturday evening: Here, participants from all workshops come together—across the different groups. After a group warm-up, we’ll open the space for improvisation, exchange, and free dancing.
On Sunday, our performance workshop is open to all workshop participants who’d like to continue working together and develop a performance. This will be presented in the evening as the collective finale of the festival.
CONNECT celebrates dancing together and collective creativity. For solidarity and cultural participation for all.
Following the festival, the CONNECT Community Arts Project will continue with additional workshops at the ehrenfeldstudios.
FESTIVAL PROGRAM
Thursday, 17.09.2026
6 – 7:30 pm
Friendship Flow | Workshop with Judith Niggehoff
For teens ages 13–22
6:00 – 7:30 pm
The Aging Body – Body, Dance, and Visibility | Workshop with Silke Z.
For everyone aged 55 and older
Friday, 18.09.2026
6 – 7:30 pm
FANTASY FAMILY DANCE | Workshop with BAAL
For children & families
Saturday, 19.09. 2026
10 am – 11:30 am
Corpo em Movimento / Body in Motion | Workshop with Sônia Mota
For women*
12 pm – 1:30 pm
Queering the Stage | Workshop with Malin Assmus
For the LGBTQ* community & anyone interested
2:30 pm – 4 pm
The Ageing Body – Dance and Parkinson’s | Workshop with Silke Z.
For people with Parkinson’s symptoms and anyone interested
4:30 – 6 pm
Cultural Moves | Workshop with Caroline Simon
For people of all cultures
6 – 7:30 pm
Dance Jam Session
Open to everyone
Sunday, 20.09.2026
11 am – 2 pm
DANCE TO THE MUSIC | Workshop with Khadidiatou Bangoura & Sabine Kuxdorf
For blind, visually impaired, and sighted people
3 – 6 pm
Performance LAB | Workshop with the festival team
For all workshop participants of the CONNECT Community Arts Project
6 pm
Showing of the Performance LAB workshop
REGISTRATION
We ask that you register in advance for all workshops at tanzen@ehrenfeldstudios.de
Or by phone at +49 221 846 395 80
PARTICIPATION FEES
Our workshops operate on a solidarity-based pricing model with a sliding scale. Within this framework, you decide for yourselves how much you’d like to and are able to pay. Those who can afford to pay more help support other participants.
Workshops (90 min): 15–30 euros
For two or more workshops: starting at 10 euros per workshop
Performance Workshop (180 min): 30–60 euros
No one will be excluded from participation for financial reasons.
Participation in the Dance Jam Session and the Performance LAB Workshop showing is on a donation basis.
ACCESSIBILITY
Barrier-free access.
Largely accessible toilet in the neighbouring building, No grab rails or height-adjustable mirror available.
Accompanying persons receive free admission.
CONNECT Community Arts Festival is funded by RheinEnergie Stiftung Kultur and Office for Cultural Affairs Cologne.
Foto: © S. Große-Wortmann