ZÜRICH TANZT at Gessnerallee

Dear visitors to Gessnerallee, dear artists

We have a packed few days ahead of us with plenty of dance happening all over the city. ZÜRICH TANZT, the festival that leaves no one unmoved, is back and popping up in countless corners of the city. To make it easier for you to plan your schedule, here’s our suggestion for the perfect weekend at Gessnerallee.

Important to know: With a ticket for the Gessnerallee programme, you’ll receive a 20 per cent discount on all food at the Riithalle – the restaurant with the city’s most beautiful beer garden.

Also important to know: For many events at ZÜRICH TANZT, day and weekend passes are available on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. For some events, such as ‘PERCEPTIONS’ by The Collective – Anna Chiedza Spörri, individual tickets are also available.

The weekend

Friday, 8 May

Beforehand: Dinner at Restaurant Riithalle

Those with a ticket for the Gessnerallee programme receive a 20 per cent discount on all food here.

9 pm: ‘PERCEPTIONS’ by The Collective – Anna Chiedza Spörri

Impressive dance and poignant text explore the (self-)perception of Black men in Switzerland through the lens of attributions, expectations and self-empowerment.

Afterwards

Option A: Thirsty guests can enjoy a cool drink at the Stall6 Bar.

Option B: Those who’ve been climbing stairs can dip their feet in the water at the Schanzengraben.

Option C: Cool off at the Brünneli on Judith-Gessner-Platz.

Saturday, 9 May

In between: Dinner at Restaurant Riithalle

People with a ticket for the Gessnerallee programme receive a 20 per cent discount on all food.

4 pm: ‘The Fur and Lace Kiki Ball’ by Liquid, Prince Zulu, Princess Kinnari Laveaux

A fantastic ballroom competition celebrating the performance art of queer People of Colour across multiple disciplines.

6 pm: ‘PERCEPTIONS’ by The Collective – Anna Chiedza Spörri

Impressive dance and moving text explore the (self-)perception of Black men in Switzerland through the lens of attributions, expectations and self-empowerment.

7–10 pm: ‘Dance your Pain’ by Lyn Bentschik and Coco Schwarz

Dancing is fun and is for all bodies, including those that (sometimes) hurt. A drop-in event with silent disco headphones for everyone to join in.

Afterwards

Option A: Look out over the Sihl opposite Judith-Gessner-Platz, listen to the frogs and celebrate spring.

Option B: Keep dancing with headphones and your own playlist.

Option C: Thirsty guests can enjoy a cool drink at the Stall6 Bar.

Sunday, 10 May

11 am: ‘Collective Singularities’ by Alessandro Schiattarella

Away with self-criticism! Bring on playful movements! A workshop on differences and shared rhythms.

2 pm: ‘Groove Gala – a Playful Rave for Everyone’

Reut Nahum (TUUT Sade) and Kilian Haselbeck (Kil I am)

A rave for all ages: joy, magic and changing beats for young and old alike.

Afterwards

Option A: Gummy bears and popcorn at Stall6 until the sweet end.

Option B: Go for a swim, wherever you end up: the season has begun!

Option C: Off to the park, lie in the grass, chill out.

Now for the weekly round-up of newspaper articles, news and everything we want to share with you:

Newspaper

Throwing the norms out the window

Choreographer, dancer and activist Anna Chiedza Spörri was a guest at Gessnerallee in March 2025 with her work ‘PERSPECTIVES’. In the piece, she highlights what it feels like for people perceived as female to be exposed to racist microaggressions day in, day out. Our Head of Communications, Rahel Bains, visited Anna Chiedza Spörri at “café revolution” in Bern to feature her in the third edition of our newspaper. Read the article (only in German)

Furthermore

After almost two years under new management, we would like to pause and ask you: How do you experience the Gessnerallee today – and how should it develop in the future? With our audience survey, we invite you to share your perspective with us.

As a thank you for taking part, you will receive a voucher for an event at the Gessnerallee. The survey runs from 22 April to 22 May 2026. If you’d like, we’d also be delighted if you could forward the survey to colleagues, friends and acquaintances. Link to the audience survey: https://gessnerallee.ch/publikumsumfrage

We wish you a good second half of the week.

The Gessnerallee team