Against the Grain

Performance Festival - Showcasing work by Berlin-based artists

The independent performance festival produced by choreographer and cultural organizer Manuel Meza, is set to return for its next edition in May 2026.

Since 2023, The Festival has become a supportive platform for dancers and choreographers whose voices are often overlooked in the institutionalized performance world. Unlike many large-scale cultural events, Against the Grain is self-organized and non-funded—a testament to the resilience and commitment of the dance community in Berlin. Built from the ground up by artists for artists, the festival creates space for work that is experimental, urgent, and radically inclusive. At its core, Against the Grain champions diversity, visibility, and equity. The festival prioritizes the work of POC, queer, trans, non-binary, and marginalized artists, highlighting the richness and necessity of perspectives that challenge conventional dance narratives. Each edition brings together emerging and established voices in an evening of short works that reflect the multiplicity of experiences shaping today’s contemporary dance and performance landscape.

This year will showcase work by Billie Bryerton, Marcel Casablanca, Arturo Lugo, Aisha Samat, Roque Vargas, and Ann Francis Ang with Cristina Buenaflor and Joy Alpuerto Ritter.

Next date:

• Date Friday, 08/May/2026 20:00 (1 more date)
• Venue Theaterforum Kreuzberg
• Address Eisenbahnstraße 21, 10997 Berlin-Kreuzberg