Performance Project at Tanzfabrik and Other Summer/Fall News

Dear Comrades,

Greetings from Kirchfembach, in Middle Franconia (it’s near Puschendorf), where i’m at a little self-organized artistic research residency at my friend Barbara Bess‘ space Alte Schule. Taking the opportunity to go through my PhD notes and make some sort of plan to structure the second part of this adventure at this, the more-or-less halfway point. 

In the meantime, other things are happening: Two weeks ago, famous and infamous choreographer Julia B. Laperrière invited me to facilitate a morning class on Scorpio Dances – BDSM & Choreography at Radialsystem Berlin, as part of her Body-Time-Space residency “Exercising Joy”. Thanks to Julia, also for making the morning classes of the series open to Berlin’s freelance dance scene.

The Near Future: 

September 1 to October 22: After the summer break, i’m excited to be returning to Tanzfabrik Berlin for the performance project “Skin, and other Boundaries”. The performance projects are extended workshop formats that run for 8 weeks, twice a week, on Monday and Wednesday evenings for two hours each, with an informal showing at the end. This is my third time facilitating one of these at Tanzfabrik, and they are always great opportunities to dive a bit more deeply into a choreographic practice than is possible in a single workshop. I will also be facilitating “Pleasure – a contemporary technique class” ahead of each session. While the performance project is a commitment to all 8 weeks, the class is open and can be taken once, twice, sporadically, or every time! Early Bird pricing for both ends next week, August 11! More info and register here! 

September 8, 10, and 12: In my sideways career as a pianist, i will be accompanying the ballet class for professionals at Marameo Berlin taught by the pedagogically fabulous Yuri Shimaoka.

September 14: Facilitating SCRIBBLES, a workshop on notating sound and movement for ages 6 and up, with the marvelous (not to mention fellow fermento) Daniella Strasfogel, at the Festival für Selbstgebaute Musik (DIY music festival), several times throughout the day between 1pm and 6pm, at Holzmarkt 25, Berlin.

September 27 & 28: Facilitating a workshop at the Microfestival of the Institut für Somatische Bildung, S*xualität und Körperarbeit (Institute for Somatic Education, S*xuality, and Bodywork) Berlin, save the date!

Further Future Preview: 

November 11-13: Facilitating several workshops and giving a lecture at Mozarteum Salzburg, for the Open Arts M.A. & PhD programs and the Orff Institute.

November 24-28: Facilitating morning classes (not only) for professionals, at Tanzplattform Rhein-Main/Mousonturm, Frankfurt am Main.

November 29 & 30: Facilitating the workshop Power of Three, at libe8, Cologne. More info and register here! 

The political department of this newsletter, that had a few good moments in the past, really would still need a moment to regroup. I still find there’s something awfully virtue-signalling about attaching your watermelon emoji to your arts news. However, more important than my aesthetic concerns is the matter of a genocide being perpetrated by those who would claim to represent me in some way, and would claim that to call them out is to be anti-semitic. As a lifelong (and at times semi-public) Jew, i still feel the need to constantly reaffirm publicly that well, no, it isn’t. As for the g-word above – some of You may fondly recall a newsletter a little over a year ago, in which i questioned the term (while also pointing out that if you’re close enough to genocide that people can confuse what you’re doing with genocide, you’re probably too close) – i’ve come around. I use it. I was late. I’m sorry. At some point, the evidence was just overwhelming. I’m also still all for creative and generative questioning of language, and am equally aware that my change in vocabulary doesn’t do much for those dying of starvation. I wish the next sentence could start with a “but”, but it doesn’t.

Some items that touched me recently, on-topic: 
Peter Beinart on Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza
Israeli Rights Groups Accuse Government of Genocide
And, just to finish in the spirit of hope and defiance, a little Patti Smith, who i saw live in concert in Berlin at age 78 a few weeks ago, and somehow made everyone feel a little lighter with her incredible energy – let’s try to be a little Patti Smith for each other sometimes. People Have the Power

Sending some rural love to You all,
xxx,
David B.

Previous News

Spring News 2025

Spring News 2025

Happy Spring, Dance Fans! Apologies for the long silence. A succession of crises, personal, professional, political, came together, and a short retreat from pub(l)ic life was in order. However, apparently as a freelancer, i am also obligated to make everyone aware of...

read more
David’s Autumn News

David’s Autumn News

Autumnal Greetings, Dance Fans!I hope this finds You all well!Things were a whirlwind this summer - teaching at my favorite humongous, monstrous dance extravaganza, ImPulsTanz Vienna International Dance Festival (including a beautiful workshop together with my dear...

read more
Spring News

Spring News

Greetings from Nuremberg, Dance Fans, where i will be performing TONIGHT, in the pumpkin-seed-oil-drenched production SOILED by the magnificent Michael Turinsky! If You're in Nuremberg, come to the EveryBody Festival at Tafelhalle TONIGHT at 8pm! If You're in Berlin,...

read more
Winter News

Winter News

Dear Dance Fans, This may come as a surprise to those of You who have known me for some time, but as i sit writing this from the privileged comfort of my Berlin apartment, i am, for once, at a loss for words to describe my heartbreak in these dark days. Staying silent...

read more
Tanznacht And Other Fall Items

Tanznacht And Other Fall Items

Shakira at the Superbowl halftime show, or David Bloom teaching a Public Moves class for 106 participants at the ImPulsTanz Vienna International Dance Festival this past summer? You decide!Dear Dance Fans, sorting out your autumn wardrobes,I hope You had a relaxing...

read more
David’s Summer News!

David’s Summer News!

nigunim at Tanzfabrik Berlin, March 23-25, photo by Claude HoferDear Dance Fans and those who love them, I hope this finds You all happy and well! This is a big fat newsletter with lots of CONTENT, so i will get right to it, in chronological order: First, the past!...

read more
NEW SOLO (And More!)

NEW SOLO (And More!)

Happy Purim, Dance Fans! I hope this finds You all happy and well, or at least staying with the trouble. The big news (well, MY big news) is the NEW SOLO, nigunim, premiering at Tanzfabrik Berlin in a few short weeks on March 23. Further shows on March 24 & 25....

read more
Premiere In Hamburg And MORE

Premiere In Hamburg And MORE

Sending kisses from HAMBURG, You lovely edible people, where we premiere TONIGHT with SOILED, by choreographer, and soccer team Austria Wien's number one fan, Michael Turinsky. It's been a truly heart-opening process, and i'm joined onstage tonight by...

read more
HOT HOT Summer News 2022

HOT HOT Summer News 2022

Greetings from hot sexy summery Vienna, Dance Fans, where i’ve been lucky enough to be rehearsing with the most excellent philosopher king & choreographer Michael Turinsky & an amazing group of collaborators. Stay tuned for shows in...

read more