SUBMERGE Festival Berlin

A Dance Festival That Works with Water

LAKE Studios Berlin is an international dance residency center in Friedrichshagen, the eastern district of Treptow-Köpenick. Located directly on the Müggelsee lake, the studios host residencies for choreographers from all over the world year-round. The SUBMERGE Festival emerged from this daily work – a format that brings the residency dynamic outwards.

What Makes SUBMERGE Special

SUBMERGE does not follow the classic festival structure of "performance as the endpoint." Instead, each performance is preceded by a two-day choreographer lab (10:00 AM–4:00 PM each day), where invited artists share their methods, movement techniques, and conceptual approaches with Berlin-based dance makers. This makes the festival a platform for exchange rather than a purely showcase event.

International Cast 2026

The 8th edition features, among others, Angélica Roa, Kia Smith / South Chicago Dance Theater, Yotam Peled, Olivia Hyunsin Kim / ddanddarakim, Koffi-Kégou Afiadegnigban, sawako ogo | disasterchaotic, Pamela Moraga, the Riiviöt Collective, Omer Keinan, and Katia Pacheco. The work ABOUT DANCE – forming futures connects a forum with Siegmar Zacharias.

Jury and Selection

The selection of works was made by the jury Cathy Walsh, Areli Moran, and Johanna Kasperowitsch. At least one main participant per project must be based in Berlin – a conscious commitment to locality that supports the exchange between the international scene and the Berlin dance community.

Friedrichshagen – Berlin's Quiet Dance Stage

Friedrichshagen on the Müggelsee is one of Berlin's most scenic districts. The festival deliberately uses this secluded location: those who come here plan a whole day – studios, lake, concerts, shared meals. This makes SUBMERGE one of Berlin's quietest and most focused dance events.