Ana Lessing Menjibar is a German-Spanish performer, dancer, choreographer and multidisciplinary artist, born and based in Berlin. In 2020 she graduated from the performance art Master’s program, Solo/Dance/Authorship (SoDA) at HZT-Berlin, the Inter-University Centre for Dance of the University of the Arts Berlin (UdK).
Previously she studied Visual Communication in Berlin and Sydney, graduated in 2008 from the University of the Arts Berlin (UdK), and works as an art director and publisher in culture and art. At the same time, Ana Lessing Menjibar has been working as a flamenco dance choreographer and soloist for many years. A dance which she studied from an early age on.
In her performances, she weaves body and sound compositions into multimedia installations, working with dance, choreography, electronic music, video, photography or sculptural elements. These are understood as an extended choreographic practice to construct poetic worlds which offer her space to examine different physical states from formal to ecstatic. Here, she experiments with the transformative potential of flamenco in the context of performance and contemporary dance. The focus is on the knowledge that this dance and its rhythms carry for the body and society and how these could be thought further into future-oriented spaces. In her performances the body is addressed as a unique source of sound and rhythm, extending the ability of sound to act as a performer in space.
She is a founding member of Dry Ocean, a transcultural collective of artists and researchers exploring ideas of relationality and plurality.
In 2019 she premiered her dance piece Perpetual Archive at Uferstudios Berlin and in 2021 her solo Show Your Wound was shown at Centre Pompidou Málaga. For 2020/21, she has received both the Tanzpraxis Berlin and the Research grant from Berlin Senate Department for Culture and Europe, as well as the Dis-Tanz Solo grant. 2022 she received a #Takeheart process grant from Fonds Darstellende Künste and in 2023 Hauptstadtkulturfonds Berlin is funding her upcoming production Third Skin.
Ana Lessing Menjibar has performed, directed or exhibited at the Uferstudios Berlin, Sophiensaelen, Komische Oper Berlin, tanzhaus nrw, nGbK and the Chamber Music Hall of the Berlin Philharmonie (D), Villa Romana (IT), PHotoEspaña or Centre Pompidou Málaga (E), among others. She teaches regularly at the University Centre for Dance (HZT-Berlin) and at the Berlin University of the Arts.
Ana Lessing Menjibar lives and works in Berlin.
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Education
2018-2020 Solo/Dance/Authorship (SoDA) (Master)
At HZT-Berlin, the Inter-University Centre for Dance of the University of the Arts Berlin
2002-2008 Visual Communication (Diploma)
Graduation with honors in at the University of the Arts Berlin,
2005 Visual Communication at University of the Art Sydney ( NICA Scholarship)
2002-2018 Flamenco Master Classes with Dancers and Choreographers, Berlin and Sevilla. Andrés Marín, Eva la Yerbabuena, Farruquito, Juana Amaya, Leonor Leal, Andrés Peña, Ursula Lopez a.s.o.
1993-1997 Flamenco education with Celia Rojas “La India”, Berlin
1988-1993 Flamenco education with Manuel Moreno, Berlin
Grants & Residency (selection)
2024 Senate Department for Culture and Europe – Tanzpraxis Stipend
2024 Goethe Institut Madrid Residency
2023 Goethe Institut Madrid Residency
2023 Hauptstadtkulturfonds – Production Funding for Third Skin
2022 DIS-TANZ-SOLO Grant
2022 TakeHeart Residenzförderung – Fonds Darstellende Künste / HAU
2022 TakeHeart Prozessförderung – Fonds Darstellende Künste
2022 IFA Art Funding
2021 TakeHeart Residenzförderung – Fonds Darstellende Künste / tanzhaus NRW
2021 Senate Department for Culture and Europe – Arbeits- und Recherche Stipend
2021 DIS-TANZ-SOLO Grant
2021 Trust Residency, Portugal
2020 Senate Department for Culture and Europe – Tanzpraxis Stipend
2016 tanzhaus NRW Residency – Frágil production with Leonor Leal
2013 IFA Art Funding
2005 NICA Scholarship
Teaching & Lectures (selection)
2021- 25 HZT-Berlin/HFS Berlin at MA Choreography – Seminar, Mentor & Tutorial
2021- 25 HZT-Berlin/UdK at BA Dance – Workshop & Mentor
2024 Theaterakademie August Everding – Artistic Mentor
2024 Conservatoire de la Ville de Luxembourg – Lecture
2023- 24 HZT-Berlin/UdK at MA Solo/Dance/Authorship (SODA) – Artistic Mentor, Tutor and Master examination board member
2023 Tanzquartier Wien, TQW Winter School – Lecture
2022 University of the Arts Berlin, InKüLe – Seminar
2022 Mousonturm Frankfurt – Bodies, un-protected – Workshop
2022 HZT-Berlin – OPENING Third Skin – Lecture
2021 HZT-Berlin/UdK at MA Solo/Dance/Authorship (SODA) – Artistic Mentor
2021 University of Applied Sciences Münster – Lecture
2021 HZT-Berlin/UdK Berlin, MA Solo/Dance/Authorship (SODA) and MA Sculpture Class(Class Monica Bonvicini) – Seminar in collaboration with Monica Bonvicini, Janez Janša, Sandra Noeth
2021 University of Applied Sciences Münster – Lecture
2020 Radialsystem Berlin. Artist-Residenz Lina Gómez – Workshop
2020 University of the Arts Berlin, (Class Monica Bonvicini) – Lecture & Tutorial
2016 Art School San Telmo Málaga – Lectrue
2014 University of Applied Sciences Potsdam – Lecture
2013 Kommunale Galerie, Berlin – Workshop
2012 Skateistan Kabul, Afghanistan – Workshop
2010 University of Applied Sciences Dortmund – Lecture
2010 BTK Berliner Academy of Design – Lecture
2010 University of the Arts Berlin – Lecture
2009 University of the Arts Glasgow – Lecture
2009 University East London – Lecture & Tutorial
2009 Chead-Conference Berlin – Lecture
Performance (selection)
Solo Upcoming
2025 Radialsystem, Tanzfabrik Berlin – Third Skin, Solo Performance
2024 Réplika Teatro Madrid – Third Skin, Solo Performance
2024 Zentralwerk Dresden – Third Skin, Solo Performance
2024 Krefeld MOVE – Third Skin, Solo Performance
Solo Past
2024 MaF Málaga Festival, Spain – Third Skin, Solo Performance
2024 tanzhaus nrw, Düsseldorf – Third Skin, Solo Performance
2023 Uferstudios Berlin – Third Skin, Solo Performance
2022 Centre Pompidou Málaga – #Estival – Show your Wound
2022 Kunstverein Reutlingen – Eine Begegnung: Vera Kox ...into deliquescence und Show your Wound
2022 Sophiensaele, Berlin – Tanztage – Perpetual Archive
2021 El Tanque, Tenerife – Keroxen Festival – Show your Wound
2021 HOTO, Berlin – CAA Berlin Performance Series N°1 – Show your Wound
2020 neun Ingolstadt – Perpetual Archive
2020 Art Summer Kunstverein Arnsberg – Perpetual Archive
2019 Uferstudios Berlin – Perpetual Archive, Solo Performance
2019 Uferstudios Berlin – (Int)eruption. The Idea of a Second Heart
2018 Villa Romana, Florence – Somatolyse 2
2018 ArteReunido Festival, Zürich ” – Somatolyse 2
2016 Ateneo de Málaga – Ida y vuelta. Un viaje sensorial
Collaboration
2024 Goethe Institut Madrid – Episode three: Tránsito, Dry Ocean Collective
2023 IFAN Museum, Partcours, Dakar – Dry Ocean Collective, Episode two: The opening
2020 Dock 11 Berlin – /\/\/\/ || by Mineralwasser Kollektiv
2020 Galerie Ruttkowski;68, Köln – Begegnung, in collaboration with Eric Winkler
2019 Sophiensaele, Berlin – Dirty Debüt – dissociate directed by Joseph Wegmann, performed by Mineralwasser Kollektiv
2018 Uferstudios Berlin – /\/\/\/ | by Mineralwasser Kollektiv
2018 Tanznacht Berlin – Remembering the Future – Tanzfabrik Berlin’s 40th Birthday!
hoasted by Mineralwasser Kollektiv
2018 Flutgraben, Berlin – birdlike_creature in collaboration with Mikala Hyldig Dal
2016 Tanzhaus NRW – Frágil – Artist in Residency and a production for Tanzhaus NRW
Co-Directed by Leonor Leal, Michio, Maura Morales and Ana Lessing Menjibar, Leonor Leal (dance), Michio (music), Maura Morales (choreography) and Ana Lessing Menjibar ( Visual concept, Stage, Video)
Flamenco Soloist & Choreography (selection)
2020 neun, Ingolstadt – Flamenco Festival – Colores, Director and Choreographer
2019 Babylon Berlin – Companía Azabache Flamenco, Soloist and Choreographer
2011-2018 Komische Oper Berlin – Carmen – Directed by Sebastian Baumgarten
Guest-soloist and Flamenco Choreographer
2018 Gewandhaus Leipzig – Companía Azabache Flamenco, Soloist and Choreographer
2018 Laeizhalle Hamburg – Companía Azabache Flamenco, Soloist and Choreographer
2018 Song Release & Performance at Lido Berlin – Spanish Footwork
Collaboration for the new album of Kid Simius Planet Of The Simius
2017 Performance and Choreography for Semi – Music video for Kid Simius feat. Kelvyn Colt
2017 Alter Schlachthof, Dresden – Companía Azabache Flamenco, Soloist and Choreographer
2017 Contemporary Tango Festival Berlin – Flamenco meets Tango, Soloist and Choreographer
in collaboration with Sven Elze (Tango dancer) and musicians Konjaleo
2017 Laeizhalle Hamburg – Companía Azabache Flamenco, Soloist and Choreographer
2017 Gewandhaus Leipzig – Companía Azabache Flamenco, Soloist and Choreographer
2016 Urania Berlin – Companía Azabache Flamenco, Soloist and Choreographer
2016 Rock im Park / Rock am Ring / Maifeld Derby – Tour with Kid Simius
2016 Gewandhaus Leipzig – Companía Azabache Flamenco, Soloist and Choreographer
2015 Flamenco Festival, Berlin – Homenaje a Oliver Farke, Soloist and Choreographer
2015 Urania Berlin – Companía Azabache Flamenco, Soloist and Choreographer
2015 Gewandhaus Leipzig – Companía Azabache Flamenco, Soloist and Choreographer
2014 Flamenco Festival, Berlin – Berliner Flamenco Nacht, Soloist and Choreographer
2014 Werkstatt der Kulturen Berlin – Companía Azabache Flamenco, Soloist and Choreographer
2013 Chamber Music Hall of the Philharmonie Berlin – Flamenco Concert, Soloist and Choreographer
2012 Waschhaus Potsdam – Los dos Tiempos, Soloist and Choreographer
2011 Flamenco Festival Würzburg – Los dos Tiempos, Soloist and Choreographer
2010 Chamber Music Hall of the Philharmonie Berlin – Flamenco Concert, Soloist and Choreographer
2009 Werkstatt der Kulturen Berlin – Flamenco Concert, Soloist and Choreographer
2009 Norway Tour; Kulturhuset Banken, Lillehammer; Konserthus Oslo; Blaue Grotte, Fredrikstad, Norway, – Entre Nosotros, Soloist and Choreographer
2009 Flamenco Festival Würzburg – Entre Nosotros, Soloist and Choreographer
2008 Chamber Music Hall of the Philharmonie Berlin – Flamenco Concert, Soloist and Choreographer
2007 Flamenco Festival, Berlin – Los dos Tiempos , Soloist and Choreographer
2006 Chamber Music Hall of the Philharmonie Berlin – Flamenco Concert , Soloist and Choreographer
2006 Tränenpalast Berlin – Companía Azabache Flamenco, Soloist and Choreographer
2005 Flamenco Festival, Berlin – Young Talents, Soloist and Choreographer
Projects and Exhibition (selection)
2023 Group show – IFAN Museum, Partcours, Dakar – Dry Ocean Collective, Episode two: The opening
2023 HZT Berlin Book Series – Art Direction – Breathe edited by Sandra Noeth & Janez Janša
2021-22 Tanzhaus NRW – Working group – Volume up! Community of Practice
2021 Group show – Kunstverein Arnsberg – At A Moment In Time
2020 PHotoEspaña, 13th Edition – International Festival of Photography
Represented by Yolanda Ochando Obra Gráfica
2020 Group show – Galerie Yolanda Ochando Obra Gráfica – Postcards from Confinement
2018 Group show – Flutgraben, Berlin – Open Source
2018 Screening – Uferstudios Berlin – Premiere of Moosgrün, verschluck mich
2017 Group show – Exhibition Refugee Camp, Iraqi Kurdistan Region – Mother Love
2016 Screening – Video work Buleria
9Th Festival Les Instants Vidéo, Marseille (Friche la Belle de Mai) &
Buenos Aires – “Instants Vidéo Numériques et poétiques”
2016 Group show – Galerie Westphal, Berlin – Mother Love
2016 Solo Exhibition – Bienal Miradas de Mujeres 2016, Malaga, Spain – (Re)Tratando
Represented by Yolanda Ochando Obra Gráfica
2016 Group show – Larry, Berlin – The Larry Video Show – Screening. Video work Buleria
2016 Group show – Schaufenster, Berlin – TOPIC TROPIC – Screening. Video work Somatolyse
2016 Solo exhibition – Ateneo de Málaga – Ida y vuelta. UN viaje sensorial.
2015 Solo exhibition – Instituto Cervantes Berlin – Por Siguiriyas
2015 Group show – Artistweekend Berlin – NGORONGORO
2013 Artistic Director, Exhibition and Workshops – Kommunale Galerie Berlin – Once upon a time…
2012 Group show NGBK, Berlins – Machen die immer (noch) das Gleiche? Die NGBK probt ihre Kommunikationsfähigkeit.”
2012 Artistic director of the project Once upon a time … – Skateistan, Kabul, Afghanistan, Workshops and exhibition project
2012 Curation – DAZ, Berlin – Skateistan – The Tale of Skateboarding in Afghanistan, Exhibition and book release
2009 Exhibition and release event of the publication Berlin Haushoch # 3 – Charlottenburg at the Königlichen Porzellan Manufaktur, Berlin
2008 Exhibition and release event of the publication Berlin Haushoch # 2 – Der Wedding in the former Schering Galerie, Berlin
2005 Group show at Gallery Newspace, Sydney – Souvenirs
2004 Group show at Lichtturm Berlin, curated by Stefan Sagmeister – Design berührt Herz
2002-8 several group shows – University of the Arts Berlin
Publisher of
2023 Hatje Cantz – INDEX Jeewi Lee
2014 A Mag for All Seasons – Winter Magazine #1
2009 Berlin Haushoch #3 – Charlottenburg
2008 Berlin Haushoch #2 – Der Wedding
2006 Berlin Haushoch #1 – Marzahn
Art Director for (selection)
HZT-Berlin – University of the Arts Berlin, Rizzoli Edition New York, Dummy or Sleek Magazine, for Nike, Johann König – St. Agnes and NGBK – Neue Gesellschaft für Bildende Kunst, NGO´s as Skateistan, Water Integrity Network or Oxfam. Publisher of Berlin Haushoch and A Mag for All Seasons Magazine.
Awards
2014 Stiftung Buchkunst / Shortlist – Die schönsten deutschen Bücher
2014 Nominated for the Designpreis Deutschland (German Design price)
2013 nomination Shenzhen Design Award for Young Talents / unesco-creative-cities-network
2013 Art Directors Club
2011 Nominated for the Designpreis Deutschland (German Design price)
2010 Sappi Ideas That Matter
2010 Nominated for the Designpreis Deutschland (German Design price)
2009 LICC
2009 iF Gold Award
2009 RedDot Award
2008 iF Award
2008 RedDot Award
2006 Art Directors Club Germany Junior Award
2006 Canon Pro-fashional Award
2006 RedDot Award