Sebastian Abarbanell (they/he) is a queer performance artist from Berlin, Germany. Their practice is based in movement and dance spanning performance, creation, facilitation, and drag. With their work they challenge oppressive structures - hetero- and cisnormativity, patriarchy, whiteness - by nurturing queer practices and their accessibility. For them, queerness is both identity and ideology, fostering self-liberation beyond queer bodies. Their movement practice draws on somatics, groove, trance, and authentic movement, inspired by queer club culture, spirituality, and contemporary improvisation.
Born in Frankfurt am Main in 1994 and raised around Berlin, they moved to London in 2012 to train at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and relocated to New York City in 2015 before returning to Berlin in 2019.
Sebastian’s performance work has been presented internationally in the US, Mexico and across Europe, honored by Aerowaves Europe, Solo-Tanz-Theater Festival Stuttgart, Tanztheater Festival Erfurt and SoloDuo Festival Cologne and commissioned by Theater Pforzheim, Staatsgalerie Stuttgart, Haus Kunst Mitte and TRAUMA BAR UND KINO.
They have collaborated and toured with Sidra Bell Dance New York and Andrea Miller’s Gallim Dance and were a founding member of BIRDHOUSE directed by Raven Taisce White. Since 2019 they collaborate closely and perform with Kianí del Valle/KDV Performance Group and Sasha Waltz & Guests.
Beyond their work as a performer Sebastian also works as a rehearsal director for with Sasha Waltz & Guests having staged “In C” at Dutch National Ballet, Ballet Nacional Chileno, Center of Contemporary Dance in Pune, India and at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London, UK.
Photo by Sara Herrlander 2025
Photo by Sara Herrlander 2025
As a teacher, mentor and facilitator Sebastian has taught for professional dancers, students, young adults and amateurs. Since 2021 they facilitate open level movement classes titled VIBRANT BODY at Tanzfabrik Berlin twice a week alongside Soroa Lear and Sara Lu. Together with Wibke Storkan Sebastian currently directs the Kinder- & Jugendtanzcompany of Sasha Waltz & Guests.
They have taught professional classes at DOCK 11, Marameo, Tanzfabrik Berlin, Radialsystem, Henny Jurriens Studio, Theater Pforzheim, Marigny Opera Ballet and MICHIYAYA Dance and taught masterclasses at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance (UK), NYU Tisch Summer Dance Residency in Berlin and the University of the Arts in Philadelphia (US).
Sebastian’s drag persona Maximise is active in the Berlin drag scene performing with Bibingka & The Babes (with Bibingka, Lulu & Mama Shiva) as well as Judy LaDivina and Lawunda Richardson.
In 2025 Sebastian co-produced the first edition of GLITTER IN THE CRACKS with Sara Lu and Soroa Lear at Uferstudios Berlin. This four day event celebrated queer interndisciplinary performance expressions within an independent and collective artistic framework.