[8:tension] Young Choreographers’ Series – Podcast

Today’s guest is Samir Kennedy. His intimate solo The Aching was invited to this year’s [8:tension] Series.  We talked about the moment when he for the first time realised that he can actually move a crowd with nothing more than his voice. About personal grieve and his experience of going through it within his art. About how hard it is to draw a line between life and work, and what community means to him.  Samir Kennedy and Almud Krejza met  in July 2026 to record this episode.   Upcoming dates: 18–19 November 2026, Festival Danse Dense, Paris, FR: Relay 28 November 2026, Les Halles de Schaerbeek, Bruxelles, BE: Le Shit Show 10–11 Dezember 2026 Beursschouwburg, Bruxelles, BE: IT'S GOT LEGS!!!!!!!

Today’s guest is Taous Bertrand. Her solo Nymph was invited to this year’s [8:tension] Series.  While outside rain was pouring down, we talked about the charm and the burden of being an independent artist. About the magic of transformations, about failure and doubts. About the expectations of oneself, about the power of language, and the importance of being in peace in solitude.  Taous Bertrand and Almud Krejza met in July 2026 during ImPulsTanz Festival to record this episode.    Upcoming dates: 13–14 November, CAMPO nieuwpoort, Ghent, BE: I ❤️ Performance – Taous Bertrand / Pablo Alamá / in collaboration with WOEKER 11 March 2027, La Grainerie, Toulouse, FR: Nymph

Season 4 of the [8:tension] Podcast is being released each Thursday from October to December 2026. Almud Krejza sat down for a conversation with the artists invited to the [8:tension] Young Choreographers' Series in 2026: Alina Arshi, Ange Ndoho, Dominique Tegho, Ehsan Hemat, Gabrielle Levie, Joce, Magdalena Forster, Ole Meland, Samir Kennedy, Taous Bertrand and Wojciech Grudziński.

Today’s guest is Ole Meland. His group piece JEG BRAKK was presented in the frame of this year’s [8:tension] Series.   We talked about what made him choose dance again and again and about how he balances being a dancer at the Norwegian national dance Company while also choreographing his own works. How having a simple life does the trick for him. And about his interest in the friction between destruction and creation.   Ole Meland and Almud Krejza met in July 2026 during ImPulsTanz Festival to record this episode.  Upcoming dates: 30 October – 1 November BIT Bergen, NO: Syv Figurer Blir Syke

Today’s guest is Alina Arshi. She presented her duet States of bewilderment at this year’s [8:tension] Series.   This conversation is about contradictions. And how to translate them into dance. About the double life of a migrated person, about the fight against the voice constantly saying "Who are you to...". It is about doing things, even though it seems not possible and about staying sane. If that is possible.   Alina Arshi and Almud Krejza met in July 2026 during ImPulsTanz Festival to record this episode. They recorded outside – at least that's where they started – and got interrupted several times, mostly by heavy rain. So please excuse the many additional noises and the frequently asked question: Where were we?

Today’s guest is Ehsan Hemat. His piece Everything brings us back to the body was invited to this year’s [8:tension] Series at ImPulsTanz – Vienna International Dance Festival. He told me about the times when his theater friend asked him to do a choreography – and he had to look up what choreography even means. When imported video tapes were his only source to see contemporary dance. How a broken foot started up his career, what gives him goosebumps, and how he made a copper plate his stage partner.   Almud Krejza met Ehsan Hemat in August 2026 during ImPulsTanz Festival to record this episode.  Upcoming Dates for Everything brings us back to the body: 17 October 2026, CC Ter Vesten Beveren, Belgium 29 October 2026, Rosendal Teater, Norway 07 November 2026 - Chassé Theater, Breda, Niederlande

Today’s guest is Wojciech Grudziński. He was invited with his solo performed by two called Cute & Akward to this year's [8:tension] Series.  We talked about making life decisions at the young age of 10, which options a dancer in Poland has to become contemporary. In which ways being abroad can strengthen your connection with your home country and how a local scene can change for the better even before political terms change. Almud Krejza talked to Wojciech Grudziński during ImPulsTanz Festival 2026.   Upcoming Dates: 14 & 15 October 2026, Birmingham: Threesome Fierce Festival 16 October 2026, Vienna: Welcome to 1030! Brut Wien Season Opening   21 October 2026, Gdynia: Cute & Akward Gdynia Municipal Theater

Today’s guest is Production Xx who’s work Gush is great was invited to this years [8:tension] Series.  They told us about the start of this piece, when the six of them did not know each other yet, but were invited to develop a piece together – within 5 days. We hear, how they found quite playful ways to fulfill this task and ended up becoming friends and collaborators and touring Gush is great for years. Almud Krejza talked to Julie Botet, Simon Le Borgne, Max Gomard, Philomene Jander, Zoe Lakhnati, Ulysse Zangs and Dora Pentchev  during ImPulsTanz Festival 2025.

Today’s guest is Catol Teixeira, who’s work Arrebentação - zona de derrama last chapter was invited to this years [8:tension] Series.  Catol told us how close their way of choreographing is to their actual way of living. Why they choose to work with close friends and what it means to them to choreograph emotional zones. And Catol talked about how not planning a lot, but following instincts can bring you to places.Almud Krejza was talking with Catol during ImPulsTanz Festival 2025.

Today’s guest is Mufutau Yusuf who’s work Impasse was invited to this years’ [8:tension] Series.  He talked about the times when he, at age 17, was asked to join a tour to New York, about his urge to make his own work, and the difference of showing it in Europe or in Nigeria. About being seen or not and as what in society, and the unfair division of power over visibility. Almud Krejza was talking with Mufutau during ImPulsTanz Festival 2025.