The crowd at a concert represents a place of communal struggle and ritualised togetherness. At the same time, it can be a place for moshing, a dance style in which concertgoers’ bodies bang and bump against each other, immersing themselves in an ambivalent feeling of togetherness and sensory stimulation. The performance ‘KOPANIMA’ takes up the movement practice of moshing and transforms it into an echo of the moshpit*. The movements of the four dancers focus on the dynamics and energies between bodies moving together in the crowd. A space is created that raises questions about physicality, vulnerability and resistance - and at the same time enables gestures of trust and solidarity.

‘KOPANIMA’ is the third part of an ongoing performance series, following “Bang Bang Bodies”, which premiered as part of Tanztage Berlin 2023, and “Slamming” (produced by Onassis Stegi), in which artist Xenia Koghilaki explores the relationship between the subcultural practices of moshing and collective letting go through dance and choreography.

*A mosh pit is a circle that often forms in front of the stage at metal, hardcore or punk concerts, in which the audience dances.

Access means

The performance contains abrupt lighting changes and stroboscopic effects. There is loud music that sometimes comes as a surprise.