Huy Duc Dong

Huy Duc Dong is a passionate movement artist, dance instructor, and lifelong learner based in Leipzig. His love for dance began later in life when he discovered “Popping” at age 16 – his first discipline within dance culture. Over the past few years, he has deepened his passion for the dance style “Waving,” finding in it not only his artistic voice but also deeper insights about himself. Thanks to the support of his mentors, JayBadu, Jesse Sykes, and currently Slim Boogie, his understanding of the human experience – the body, emotions, and relationship to music – continues to expand. Through their influence, Huy has developed a clear mission: to show others that living authentically and following one’s passions can lead to a truly fulfilling life. People themselves are Huy’s greatest source of inspiration, as he continually discovers and understands new things through shared experiences. For him, learning is an endless journey into the world of art and humanity. To pass on his mission, he teaches not only private students of all ages but also regularly at “Heizhaus” in Leipzig. With his crew “kleinParis,” he is committed to fostering new talent to strengthen the dance scene in central Germany (Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia) and to help people discover themselves and their own dance style.

Impulse at go plastic STUDIO LAB:
WAVING-Workshop »SURRENDER YOURSELF«
Tuesday, December 10; from 2 – 3:30 p.m.
Wednesday, December 11; from 3 – 5:30 p.m.

Dive into the question of who leads whom in dance: Are we the ones giving meaning to music, or does music make us come alive? In this workshop, we will delve into this intriguing question and seek answers together. These insights will help us unlock new movement potential that often lies dormant within us. The focus will be on the dance style “Waving,” but we’ll also leave room to push boundaries and explore new territories. Together, we will engage with Huy’s philosophy, which emphasizes the importance of getting to know yourself – physically and emotionally – before truly discovering dance. Experience a workshop where we explore the mind, body, and heart as one. When “mind, body, and soul” are in harmony, movement becomes authentically tangible – not only in dance but in everyday life as well.

The workshop is offered at an open level. Drop-ins are only possible on the first day (Tuesday, December 10th), as the concepts build on each other. Please bring something to write with.

Level: open level
Language: German & English

Swantje Henke

Swantje Henke is an actress and audio describer for theater, dance, and film. She made her stage debut at the Berliner Ensemble, working with directors such as Einar Schleef, Christoph Schlingensief, and Werner Schroeter. Later, she became a member of the Burgtheater in Vienna, where she collaborated with Einar Schleef once again. As a freelance actress, Henke has performed at renowned venues including the Schaubühne Berlin, Deutsches Theater Berlin, Hebbel am Ufer, and the Sophiensaele. In 2020, she discovered audio description through a workshop with Jess Curtis (Gravity Access Services). Since then, she has worked as an audio describer for organizations such as HAU Berlin, Theater der Jungen Welt Leipzig, Radialsystem, Tanzhaus NRW, Berliner Ensemble, Schaubühne Berlin, and Theater an der Parkaue.

Impulse at go plastic STUDIO LAB:
Audio-Description Introduction-Workshop
Wednesday, December 12; from 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

In this introductory workshop on audio description (AD), the focus will primarily be on gaining an overview of the different AD methods. What is the difference between a free-form AD and a scripted AD? What is essential for self-description or the description of characters? What should be included in an introduction, and how can a tactile tour be designed? We will address these and other questions, and through exercises, we’ll have the chance to try out some of these concepts ourselves.

Level: open level
Language: German

Šuka Horn

Šuka Horn was born and raised in Germany, where he began training in breakdance at the age of 12. During his dance studies at Codarts University in Rotterdam, he completed an internship with “18 monkey dance theatre” in Bangkok. After graduating, he worked with R.O.P.A. in Spain and created a solo piece with the support of Dansateliers Rotterdam. In 2020, Šuka relocated to Athens to join Dimitris Papaioannou’s production “Transverse Orientation”, which led to the creation of “INK”. After finishing a four year long world tour with those productions and his workshops he decided to move to Leipzig and focus on developing his research and teaching. Šukas “Upside Down Inside Out” workshops have been taught in Universities, Companies, Festivals and Studios in 18 different countries.

Impulse at go plastic STUDIO LAB:
Workshop »Upside Down Inside Out«
Saturday, December 14; from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Sunday, December 15; from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

The workshop aims to inspire the participants to move with playful joy and a sense of harmony. Together with some basic knowledge about the body, these qualities allow us to safely develop skills and expand personal abilities. A part of Šuka’s ongoing quest is to simultaneously develop both external and internal qualities and to learn how to combine a love for raw physical challenges with an interest in mindful and efficient movement. The workshop will explore both floor work and standing movement, influenced by Šuka’s training in contemporary dance, acrobatics, and urban dance. We will also explore movement games to bridge the gap between training and real-life situations. Šuka says: “My own curiosity and experience with a variety of approaches to developing the ‘body, heart, and mind’ have influenced the way I move, think, and teach.” If you feel like moving upside down from the inside out, then this is the right workshop for you!

Level: advanced / professional
Language: German / English

Compagnie Training go plastic / Cindy Hammer

Monday, December 9; from 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Tuesday, December 10;  from 10 – 11:30 a.m.

Cindy Hammer ‘s training is composed of three parts: a full-body, intensive warm-up; various technical exercises to practice movement sequences; and a section focused on working with improvisation and movement concepts. The training is aimed at professional dancers and advanced practitioners.

Level: advanced / professional
Language: German & English

Compagnie Training go plastic / Susan Schubert

Thursday, December 12; from 9 – 10 a.m. (free warm up class)
Friday, December 13; 10 -11:30 a.m.

Susan Schubert‘s company training is designed to prepare both body and mind for the day. Additionally, Susan incorporates somatic work with improvisation, focusing on spatial, temporal, and bodily awareness.

Level: open level
Language: German & English

Yoga Class with Luise Knofe

Wednesday, December 11; from 10 – 11 a.m.

In this yoga session, we will practice dynamic Vinyasa yoga, emphasizing seamless transitions between asanas in harmony with the breath. This flowing yoga style promotes relaxation and rejuvenation. Luise tailors the practice to meet the specific needs of a dancer’s body, aiming to release tension and address overworked muscles while fostering a sense of calm in the mind.

Level: open level
Language: English

Lunch-Brunch-Q&A with go plastic

Wednesday, December 11; from 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

We invite you to a cozy lunch in a festive pre-Christmas atmosphere. Let’s look back together on the year 2024 and (hopefully not too anxiously) glance ahead to 2025. We want to connect with you, chat, laugh, reflect, and, of course, enjoy food and drinks together.

Fight for your fairytale is the go plastic company’s new project, which is being realized as a pop-up piece for young audiences as part of explore dance. It is dedicated to the figure of the witch, her changing image, her rich history and far-reaching impact. The focus is on dealing with one’s own and other people’s powers as an identity-forming process, with self-determination and heteronomy. It is a multidisciplinary play that enchants and perhaps heals.

The play contains German language in writing and sound and was created in cooperation with the Gymnasium Klotzsche. The production is suitable for everyone aged 12 and over.

Duration: approx. 40 minutes
Language: German in script and sound

COME OUT AND PLAY. THE CITY IS YOURS.

What do skyscrapers and cloud formations have in common? Quite simply: what you make of them by yourself. And the ASPHALTWELTEN app opens up just that in lots of playful challenges: new urban worlds in a very private and interactive focus.

Fountains become your stage, walkways your playground and parks turn into your individual creative laboratory.

With your smartphone and the ASPHALTWELTEN app, you can discover how much playground there is in your surroundings and how much creativity you have inside of yourself. Experience how your view of your city changes when you spend time in and with it intensively and without distraction. Let yourself be challenged again and again. Every day.

How the app works

The ASPHALTWELTEN app invites you once a day to a small challenge in public space. By using video, photo, text or speech, you are called to complete a task and document it with one of the tools offered within the app. You don’t need any previous knowledge or skills for this. A smartphone, a lot of curiosity and a little creativity are all you need.

More about the ASPHALTWELTEN app can be found here.

The ASPHALTWELTEN app is free of charge, was released on July 5, 2023 and is available at Google Play Store and in the Mac App Store.

Crew

Artistic direction & Content / Concept: Cindy Hammer & Susan Schubert

Programming / Technical development: Ralf Michael

Art Work / Design: Stephan Tautz, Dominik Glöß, Stefanie Niechciol

Project management: Marita Matzk, Conrad Schneider

Distribution / Acquisition: Dirk Förster

Legal advice: Spirit Legal

PR: Thomas Natzschka

Social Media: Lea Schweinfurth

Funding

Funded by the Cultural Foundation of the Free State of Saxony and the Federal Government  Commissioner for Culture and the Media in the NEUSTART KULTUR programme, tanz:digital assistance programme of the German Dance Association.

This measure is co-financed by tax funds on the basis of the budget passed by the Saxon State Parliament.