Weirding Practice

The work centers on movement and constant transformation inspired by diverse life experiences. Within this process, a sense of “weirding”, uncertainty, confusion, curiosity; may emerge. This sensation is not unfamiliar to queer people with lived migrant experiences; rather, it can become a point of intersection where unexpected situations and connections appear.

Participants are invited to play with movement research scores that explore this ongoing sense of weirding, allowing dance to gradually emerge.

Drawing on performative elements of drag as well as embodied experiences and sensory memory, we will create Performing Artifacts (accumulations of movement research that take on a tangible and reusable form).

Sefa Okutan is a Berlin-based dance and performance maker working at the intersection of embodied protest and queer myth. A graduate of the BA in Dance, Context, and Choreography at HZT Berlin, their work explores joy and rage as transformative forces. Sefa’s choreographic language draws on folklore, drag, and community experience. Recent works include Gasoline Queen and Planet Lubunya at Ballhaus Ost. They have performed in Bird Dances by Kareth Schaefer at Sophiensaele and collaborated with Saye Kolektif in Istanbul. Alongside their artistic practice, Sefa engages in community organizing, facilitating workshops on homonationalism, queer solidarity, and mentoring with the intersectional activist collective Critical Queer Solidarity.

Queer Bridges: Forging connections and providing resources for LGBTQIA+ people with experiences of migration and/or displacement.

Queer people with experiences of migration and/or displacement in Berlin often face unique challenges in their daily lives that can limit their access to supportive communities and inclusive environments.

With the support of the Deutsche Fernsehlotterie Stiftung, we have developed the Queer Bridges program to overcome these barriers. We provide resources, networking and support in a welcoming environment for queer immigrants and refugees through our special program. Our goal is to foster a sense of belonging to the local LGBTQIA+ community, enabling smooth integration and an improved quality of life for queer folks with experiences of migration and/or displacement.

✅ Our Queer Bridges program will continue to evolve and we are always happy to hear about your needs. If you are interested, you can send us an e-mail to stay informed about further updates.

General Information
Participants: This workshop is for all who identify as LGBTQ+ and have experienced migration and/or displacement. If you don’t share these experiences but are interested in joining please reach out to us first to see if space is available. We ask that all participants respect the program’s core focus and contribute to fostering an open respectful space.
Registration: This event has limited spots available. Registration through our website is therefore required.
Language: English
Cost: The event is free of charge.