Movement Choirs – Performing Arts in Public Space
Workshop A*
Methods and Performance Formats for Creative Dance and Movement Projects to Promote Inclusion, Participation, and Social Engagement – Input and Tools That Enable Action.
October 5-9, 2026 daily from 9:00 am – approx. 4:00 pm
(except Monday 12:00-6:00 pm)
Cost: Workshop €590, reduced €500
Location: Wittdün on Amrum
*Currently recognized as educational leave in Hesse, Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg and Lower Saxony.
Background
This workshop is based on the conviction that movement formats exist for ALL people that make them fundamentally happy, strengthen us mentally and nourish us emotionally. In addition to physical and movement experience, the experience of participation, inclusion and social engagement in the creative process plays a crucial role.
MINDFULNESS AND INCLUSION
The goal of the workshop is to teach, in a practical way, movement formats and creative methods that enable inclusion, participation and engagement in the creative process.
MOVEMENT FORMATS AND METHODS
Various formats and methods are introduced and practiced in the workshop:
- Movement choirs
- Choreographic systems
- Movement improvisation
- Mindfulness training through movement
- Methodology and didactics of participatory movement formats
- Laban Movement Analysis (LMA) in the context of methodology and didactics
- Peer-Group-Dances
Daily Schedule
Each day begins at 9:00 am (except Monday) with a warm-up, followed by focusing on a specific movement format. This is implemented and reflected upon both playfully and through movement practice. The work takes place both in the studio and on the beach. The day ends at approximately 4:00 pm.
FOR AMATEURS AND PROFESSIONALS
The workshop is aimed at everyone seeking professional input or simply wanting to experience an enriching and fulfilling time on Amrum.
WORKSHOP DETAILs at a glance
- 5-day workshop, recognized educational leave with 40 teaching units of 45 min each
- October 5-9, 2026
- Daily times: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm (Monday 12:00-6:00 pm)
- Location: Gymnasium of AmrumSpa in Wittdün on Amrum
- Cost: €590, reduced €500
- Limited participants: Maximum 9 participants
- No prior knowledge required
- At the end of the workshop you will receive a certificate
practise mindfulness
In addition to working in the studio, the beautiful beach of Amrum offers an inspiring environment for the movement formats and personal recovery.
There is enough time for you to walk on the expansive beach, witness the changes of light and cloud formations, watch the mudflats – as they emerge from the water, revealing their secret world and disappearing again – and to observe the spectacular bird life.
HAVING FUN
No prior knowledge required. For EVERYONE from 18 to 70 years old. However, you should still be mobile! Each participant is responsible for their own accommodation and meals. The number of participants is limited to 10.
Workshop B*
Performing Arts in Public Spaces: Inclusion, Participation, and Social Engagement Through Movement Choirs
Due to high demand, there will be two workshops in 2026!
April 22 – April 25, 2026
April 28 – May 01, 2026
Cost: Workshop €400
*Currently recognized as educational leave in Hesse.
Background
The movement choir is a movement and performance format that has existed for over one hundred years. Originating in Expressionism, at its peak there were over 200 movement choirs in German-speaking regions where people regularly danced together. In 2013, for a workshop within the symposium “Happiness in View” at the Literaturhaus Frankfurt, I was looking for a format that could set people with and without dance experience in motion without extensive preparation, meaningfully incorporating the location.
This is how my personal interpretation of the movement choir emerged, which I have further developed over the years as a practice of mindfulness, inclusion and participation.
practise mindfulness
Goal of the project is to develop performancestructures (Movementchoirs), which we will perform daily in dialogue with nature on the beach of Wittdün on Amrum, a German island in the Northsea. Findings, observations, and movements from nature serve as inspiration. During the project you will learn methods and strategies how to translate your inspiration from public space into movement and feed it into a performance structure.
Creative Systems
enable participation and engagement for all. They incorporate the creativity and individuality of each participant and are particularly suitable for working with heterogeneous groups. Each day begins with preparatory bodywork. We work on the beach as well as in a studio, please bring comfortable and weather-resistant clothing.
suitable for amateurs and professionals
Awakening the desire to dance is an educational programme/study leave recognized under the Educational Leave Act in Hessia, Hamburg and Northrhinewestphalia and suitable for educators, social workers, choreographers, artistis, art teachers, PE teachers and everybody who enjoys working with movement and who would like to expand their knowledge and methodology. At the end you will receive a certificate.
Core time of the workshops is daily from 09:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Fees 400€
connecting yourself to nature
Having fun
There is enough time for you to walk on the expansive beach, witness the changes of light and cloud formations, watch the mudflats – as they emerge from the water, revealing their secret world and disappearing again – and to observe the spectacular bird life.
No prior knowledge required. For EVERYONE from 18 to 70 years old. However, you should still be mobile! Each participant is responsible for their own accommodation and meals. The number of participants is limited to 9.
Recognized Educational Leave
All events are recognized as educational leave according to AWbG in various federal states. The educational leave law provides different framework conditions for recognition of educational leave in the various federal states.
Inform yourself about the regulations in your federal state as well as the application formalities and speak with your employer.
newsletter
You currently don’t have time, but would like to participate next time or you enjoyed it so much that you want to be there again the following year? No problem: HERE you can sign up for the newsletter that informs you about this and other projects.
I look forward to seeing you.
Application and Information
Helpful information about how to get to Amrum and the mobility on the island can be found here!
When I think of working with Gabrielle Staiger, I recall a structured, functional approach to working with the body, yet with an ability to maximize the abstract potential of the resulting movement, and create poetry for the stage. Gabrielle had a wonderful way of prompting the dancer to reach outside of their habits, and create rich, suggestive material.
D. Hayward
The theory matches her practise. Gabrielle Staiger teaches methodologically what she practises herself (this is not necessarily the case with all the teachers I encountered). I learnt a lot from her – for teaching, choreographing, for improvising…
J. Wohsalo
Her way of teaching is very pleasant and unique! She is always in good spirit, always concentrated, even entertaining and demonstrates exercises and movement patterns very clearly and explains them in a logical manner. In addition she‘s a wonderful power woman. It‘s a pleasure to work with her. She is a born teacher and choreographer, she has what can‘t be learnt…
K. Wiedenhofer
I met Gabrielle during my dance teaching studies where she taught contemporary dance and movement analysis. She was my teacher and mentor for two years. I loved her classes as they encouraged my dancing as well as my analytical perspective on dance and movement giving me a lot of tools to develop, dance, compose, create… They had a great impact on me as a dancer, teacher or generally dance creative. Looking back I think Gabrielle was one of the most important teachers during my education and a main influence on the „dancer“ in the many ways I am today.
J. Wohsalo
