tanzmainz festival UPDATE #5
Ten days of contemporary dance at Staatstheater Mainz with world premieres Im Mohnfeld, Sky Night, and Sugar Rush
About tanzmainz UPDATE 5
The tanzmainz company at Staatstheater Mainz has established itself in recent years as one of the most distinguished ensembles for contemporary dance in the German-speaking world. Under the artistic direction of Honne Dohrmann and with choreographer Guy Weizman as artistic co-director, the company collaborates with internationally renowned guest choreographers, produces world premieres, and maintains a growing repertoire.
The tanzmainz festival UPDATE is the annual review of the company's work. The 5th edition, from February 26 to March 7, 2026, spans ten days and combines three world premieres with revivals from the repertoire and guest performances by friendly companies.
The three world premieres in 2026 are:
Im Mohnfeld (In the Poppy Field) — a choreographic work that takes the image of the poppy field as a symbol of memory, transience, and grief, translating it into a collective dance.
Sky Night — an evening-length piece that combines sky observation, vastness, and intimate encounters in a unique stage and lighting language.
Sugar Rush — an energetic, physically demanding choreography that explores the ambivalent experience of excess, desire, and exhaustion through explicit movement dramaturgy.
The company consists of 21 internationally selected dancers with backgrounds from Southern, Northern, Central, and Eastern Europe, Israel, South America, and Asia. The diversity of physical experiences, training schools, and aesthetic influences is part of the program and is reflected in the breadth of the works.
The stages of the Staatstheater Mainz will be used: the Große Haus for the evening-length main productions, the Kleine Haus for chamber-format works, and the U17 stage for experimental formats and workshop showings.
Accompanying the festival are workshops for dance enthusiasts of all levels and professionals, audience talks with choreographers and dancers, a dance brunch on the weekend, and a small film and photo exhibition in the Staatstheater foyer on the history of the company.
tanzmainz UPDATE 5 — edition 2026
The complete 2026 program will be published by Staatstheater Mainz in advance. The structure follows the proven key points of previous years: Opening night on February 26 with one of the three world premieres in the Große Haus; during the following ten days, daily performances on the stages of the Staatstheater, with a focus on the three world premieres and selected repertoire revivals; double and triple programs on weekends; festival finale on March 7 with a major performance in the Große Haus. Workshop talks and audience forums will accompany the performances, with workshops on the weekend.
Programme tanzmainz UPDATE 5 2026
2026 Program Structure
Opening Weekend Feb 26 - Mar 1
- Festival opening in the Große Haus
- World premiere Sky Night
- First performance Im Mohnfeld
- Repertoire revival
- Weekend dance brunch
Mid-Week Mar 2-5
- Daily performances
- World premiere Sugar Rush
- Audience talks
- Workshops for amateurs and professionals
Closing Weekend Mar 6-7
- Double and triple programs
- Final performances of all three world premieres
- Festival closing with a major performance in the Große Haus
World Premieres 2026
- Im Mohnfeld — Memory, transience, collective dance
- Sky Night — Evening-length piece with lighting language
- Sugar Rush — Energetic, physically demanding choreography
Company
- 21 internationally selected dancers
- Artistic Director Honne Dohrmann
- Choreographer Guy Weizman
- Invited guest choreographers
Highlights tanzmainz UPDATE 5 2026
- 5th edition of the tanzmainz festival
- Three world premieres
- Im Mohnfeld, Sky Night, Sugar Rush
- 21 international dancers
- Performances in Große Haus, Kleine Haus, U17 stage
- Workshops and audience talks
Prices tanzmainz UPDATE 5 2026
Practical information — tanzmainz UPDATE 5
Location
Staatstheater Mainz, Gutenbergplatz 7, 55116 Mainz. Performances in the Große Haus, Kleine Haus, and U17 stage depending on the format.
Date 2026
Thursday, February 26 to Saturday, March 7, 2026.
Tickets
Advance ticket sales began on December 13, 2025, via the Staatstheater Mainz box office and online at staatstheater-mainz.com. Single tickets and festival passes available. Discounts for schoolchildren, students, and seniors.
Company and Direction
tanzmainz company with 21 dancers. Artistic Director Honne Dohrmann, Choreographer Guy Weizman, plus internationally invited choreographers for the world premieres.
Accompanying Program
Workshops for amateurs and professionals, audience talks with participants, dance brunch on the weekend, photo and film exhibition in the foyer.
Getting There
From Mainz Hauptbahnhof (main station) take the tram for about 5 minutes to Schillerplatz, then walk. Central city location.
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