International Festival of Contact Improvisation & Tango Wuppertal

A Wuppertal Dance Platform with International Appeal

The International Festival of Contact Improvisation & Tango has become a fixture in Wuppertal for the European Contact Improvisation scene. Organizer Gabriele Koch – dancer, educator, and a long-standing Wuppertal figure in the CI community – connects the festival with the city's tradition: Wuppertal is the home of the iconic Pina Bausch and her dance theatre, and Café Ada (supported by Insel e.V.) on Wiesenstraße 6 is one of Germany's most important independent dance stages.

2026 Program: 4th Edition Over Six Days

The 4th festival edition runs from Tuesday, January 27th to Sunday, February 1st, 2026. The format blends three related disciplines:

• Contact Improvisation – a free dance form developed since the 1970s, focusing on physical dialogue, gravity, weight, and touch.
• Tango Argentino – the classic Argentinian partner dance form with improvisational elements.
• ContacTango – a hybrid discipline integrating elements from both dance forms.

Internationally Composed Faculty

The instructors for 2026 come from several countries: Israel, Barcelona, Freiburg, Wuppertal itself, France, Vienna, and Tübingen. This international lineup ensures stylistic diversity – each dance training session bears the signature of its instructors. Detailed program (instructor names, workshop times, main stages, lab settings) will be published on Gabriele Koch's website (gabrielekoch.net).

Café Ada — A Wuppertal Icon

For decades, Café Ada on Wiesenstraße 6 has been a central hub for independent dance culture in Wuppertal. The supporting association Insel e.V. organizes workshops, Tango milongas, classes, and festivals here year-round. The spacious wooden floor area is renowned for its acoustics and character. For the festival, the RESONANZRAUM will also be used for smaller classes and bodywork sessions.

Rates and Accommodation

The Early Bird rate is €210 for the full festival week. Accommodation options are coordinated by the organizer; package prices are around €25 per night. Registration and information are handled via [email protected] or by phone at 0160 5258336.

Wuppertal — Dance Capital with Topographical Charm

Wuppertal, located in the Bergisches Land region of southern North Rhine-Westphalia, is famous for its suspension railway, the Pina Bausch Tanztheater Wuppertal, and its unique topography. For decades, the city has been a magnet for dancers and performance artists from around the world. The CI-Tango Festival fits perfectly into this profile, making Wuppertal a destination for an international scene in early February.