Photos by Ariane Ramin
Room of Eccentricities
2025
Concept & Performance by Sebastian Abarbanell as Maximise
Featuring Tuan Ly & Soroa Lear
Music by Lady Gaga
Room of Eccentricities is a performance that engages with processes of queer becoming, identity formation, and self-understanding. Each edition is dedicated to an album by a queer music icon and uses it as a starting point for artistic reflection. In the first edition, MAYHEM by Lady Gaga serves as a multilayered, cross-genre musical foundation. The music functions as a catalyst for bodily, emotional, and performative transformations. It structures movement, inspires moods, and opens a space where eccentricity, extravagance, vulnerability, and strength become visible. The living room setting transforms into a stage where intimate fantasies, individual expressions, and collective queer experiences unfold. The audience gains insight into a performative process in which music, the body, and queer identity interact - unfolding a layered reflection on the present, self-perception, and artistic becoming.
This first edition happened during GLITTER IN THE CRACKS at Uferstudios in August 2025.
Duration: 90 minutes
Photos by Pauline Kortmann
The place where we begin/remember
a durational performance by Sara Lu, Soroa Lear & Sebastian Abarbanell
2025
Concept & Performance by Sara Lu, Soroa Lear & Sebastian Abarbanell
In this three hour durational piece, three performers explore their relationships to space, time and each other through the disorderly logics of queerness. Seeing queerness not only as a sexual orientation and gender identity but also as a state of constant expansion, disruption and illegibility, “The place where we remember” seeks to create moments of intimacy in unexpected places. Activating the space and blurring the definition of spectator, the work hopes to invite everyone to linger in the unknown, and to begin, again and again, together.
The first iteration The place where we begin happened at Haus Kunst Mitte in Berlin in May 2025.
The second iteration The place where we remember happened during GLITTER IN THE CRACKS at Uferstudios Berlin in August 2025.
Duration: 3 hours (adaptable)
“Abarbanell has shaped a very personal way of finding his language, his identity and his way to feel at home within his trained and listened body.”
- Veronica Posth for Seeing Dance
be easy.
take your time.
you are coming
home.
to yourself.
- Nayyirah Waheed
HOME
2021
Direction & Choreography by Sebastian Abarbanell
Performance by Alvin Collantes & Sebastian Abarbanell
Lighting Design by Barnaby Booth
Dramaturgy by Tuan Ly
Original Music by Slowdanger, Seb Brun & SUM1
Additional Music by Claude Debussy & AGF
Video Projection by Sina Lesnik & César Brodermann
Costumes by Sebastian Abarbanell
Production & Tour Management by Julie Peters
Co-Production by Apricot Productions
Technical Direction by Shaly Lopez
Prop Construction by Gideon Mikolaiczyk & Max Warkentin
Photography by Sara Herrlander
Sponsors/Supporters: Fonds Darstellende Künste, Familie von Moltke, TRAUMA BAR UND KINO, L’Estruch - Live Arts Residency Center, Tanzfabrik Berlin, Theater Pforzheim
HOME is a multidisciplinary dance production placing the body into various relationships with external forces. Merging the body with and separating from these forces, the piece processes the journey of finding one’s identity in a society that constantly defines one from the outside.
HOME was co-produced by Apricot Productions and supported by Fonds Darstellende Künste with funds from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media.
Duration: 70 minutes
Performances:
Uferstudios Berlin (PREMIERE 2021 & 2023), FIDCDMX (MEX), Spring Forward Festival (IRL), Trente Trente Festival (FR), Derida Dance Center (BG), Tanz Rhein Main Festival (DE), Socotra Festival (IT), Staatsgalerie Stuttgart (DE)
Photos by Sara Herrlander
It remains ruptured
2021
Choreography & Performance by Sebastian Abarbanell
Music by Borusiade
Light Design by Shaly Lopez
Mentorship by Eirini Kartsaki & Judith Sanchez Ruíz
Creative Production by Pierre Renard
Commissioned by TRAUMA BAR UND KINO
During a four-week intensive residency 4:4:1, four choreographers were invited to explore the theme of impossible repetitions. To engage with repetition - whether through movement, gesture, or structure - is to confront its inherent impossibility. The pleasure it evokes lies not only in its endlessness but also in the process of becoming undone through it: a continuous cycle of learning, unlearning, and relearning how to be, beyond what we already know.
4:4:1 investigates diverse approaches to performance by offering an embodied experience rooted in aesthetic movement research. It invites the spectator into a new way of experiencing performance—one where physicality is collectively explored and presented.
In partnership with CDCN Chorège, supported by DRAC Normadie and NEUSTART Kultur - Initiative Musik. With the help of La Cooperative Choregraphique de Caen - Le Sépulcre.
Duration: 15 minutes
Photo by Nora Kirschmeier
How it molds into the shape of their skin
Theater Pforzheim
2021
Direction & Choreography by Sebastian Abarbanell
Ballett Theater Pforzheim Dancers: Yannis Brissot, Fabienne Deesker, Dario Wilmington, Mei Chen, Hyeon-Woo Bae, Stella Covi
Original Music by Dario Wilmington
Lighting Design by Andreas Schmidt
Costumes by Sebastian Abarbanell
Film Version by Mirko Ingrao
Special Thanks to Shannon Leypoldt & Tuan Ly
How it molds into the shape of their skin was created in collaboration with the dancers of Ballett Theater Pforzheim during Sebastian Abarbanell’s choreographic residency. This residency was awarded to them by co-directors of Ballett Theater Pforzheim Guido Markowitz and Damian Gmuer at the International Solo-Tanz-Theater Festival Stuttgart in 2020.
Duration: 40 minutes
In June 2023 Staatsgalerie Stuttgart commissioned a site-specific adaptation featuring Stella Covi and Sebastian Abarbanell.
Duration: 90 minutes (adaptable)
Photos by Nora Kirschmeier & Rowan Schratzberger
Photo by Emmanuel Adamez
I lost my ground
I wanted his
For us to share
Home (what we lost what is us)
2019
Choreography & Performance by Sebastian Abarbanell
Original Music by Drew Lewis
Additional Music by Claude Debussy, AGF and Sarah Davachi
Costumes by Sebastian Abarbanell
Home (what we lost what is us) is an expression of the recognition that we have a constant home within our own body even when our external ground is shifting. It is a journey back to ourselves after being lost outside of our body.
With his performance of Home (what we lost) at the 24th International Solo-Tanz-Theater Festival Stuttgart in 2020, Sebastian received the Residence Award at Theater Pforzheim.
Duration: 20 minutes
Performances:
Istanbul Fringe Festival (TUR), Mandala Performance Festival (POL), Solo-Tanz-Theater Festival Stuttgart (DE), Craft Choreography (AUT), TanzInTents (DE), FIDCDMX (MEX), Create:ART Ace Hotel (USA), Queerly Contemporary Festival (USA)
Photos by Umi Akiyoshi
Photos by Alonzo Blanco
All that was taken from me is still here
2019
Directed by Sebastian Abarbanell
Performed by BIRDHOUSE artists Bryn Hlava, Emily Yetta Wohl, Maxi Canion, Clark Griffin, Mitch Christie and Sebastian Abarbanell
Music by Claude Debussy, Pan Sonic and Radiohead
All that was taken from me is still here is an ensemble work that normalizes gender expression while challenging power dynamics that inherently exist in any community. Nakedness and covertness become a means of connection and honoring the power of the human body.
This piece was created with BIRDHOUSE for their three-part production It fell between chairs. co-directed by Bryn Hlava, Raven Taisce White and Sebastian Abarbanell.
Duration: 30 minutes
Photos by Effy Grey
As we get weaker together
2018
Choreography & Performance by César Brodermann and Sebastian Abarbanell
Original Music by Drew Lewis
Costumes by César Brodermann and Sebastian Abarbanell
Commissioned by INSITU Site-Specific Dance Festival 2018
It was my own body that needed to survive
It was my own body that needed to be caught
It was my own body that learned how to fly
It was my own body that decided to try
As we get weaker together is an investigation of the continuous uncovering of one’s true self in a world that repeatedly bears burdens and obstacles. This piece was commissioned by INSITU Site-Specific Dance Festival.
Duration: 13 minutes
Photos by Francesca Chudnoff
EXIT
2018
Choreography & Performance by César Brodermann and Sebastian Abarbanell
Original Music by Drew Lewis
Costumes by Noah Pica
EXIT deals with the fortune of opportunity that allows one to find acceptance in this world full of separation and inequality. These factors can lead people to existential frustrations, where suicide may seem to be the only way out. EXIT is meant to encourage those to find alternative outlets.
The piece draws from the experience of two individuals from different cultural backgrounds where they have fought to be accepted for their identity and independence as members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
The creation of EXIT was created in part with generous support from New Jersey Dance Theatre Ensemble’s AiR® 2018 Program, a residency providing artists with an incubator for collaborative exchange.
Duration: 20 minutes
Performances:
New Blue Festival (CAN), RAW Queens Magnify (USA), Create:ART (USA), The Twentieth of April (USA)
Photos by César Brodermann
parasites
2017
Choreography & Performance by Sebastian Abarbanell
Music by Sid Peltyn, AGF, Dawn Golden and The Boxer Rebellion
Costume by Sebastian Abarbanell
Special Thanks to César Brodermann and Leal Zielinska
parasites addresses issues in humanity drawing from a personal perspective by navigating through an abstract and distinct physicality. It depicts the absurdity of the human existence where eyes are being shut towards the violence and abuse that we benefit from, while continuing a lifestyle in power and comfort. Each individual equals such small percentage of the entire human race, that it seems nearly impossible to make an impact towards change. We therefore selfishly continue to contribute to this parasitic relationship with the Earth and one has to wonder who will become extinct first.
parasites received the 1st Prize and Audience Prize at contact.energy Tanztheater Festival Erfurt in 2018.
Duration: 11 minutes
Performances:
Gdansk Dance Festival (POL), Tanztheater Festival Erfurt (DE), Triskelion Arts Center (USA), FIDCDMX (MEX), SOAK 2018 (USA), NimbusPRESENTS: OFFLINE (USA), Create;ART (USA)
Jesús Robisco Photography 2015
Tian
2015
Choreography & Performance by Sebastian Abarbanell
Music by Parov Stellar, Ben Frost and Francois Couperin
Costume by Sebastian Abarbanell
Each body carries an individual set of experience, knowledge, abilities and limitations. Observing and interpreting these into physical factors, Tian plays with the passion to move and to dance. This exploration is shared with the audience, testing levels of personal and mutual comfort through changing relationships with and shifting proximities to each other. To go with it or be taken by it.
Tian received the award for Best Solo by an Emerging Choreographer at SoloDuo Festival 2015 in Cologne performed by Tuan Ly.
Duration: 10 minutes
Performances:
SMUSH Gallery (USA), MASDANZA Canary Islands (ESP), SoloDuo Festival (DE), Gdansk Dance Festival (POL), Laban Theatre (UK)
