National Youth Ballet John Neumeier
The Invisibles
3/4/2026 – 3/5/2026

The piece is dedicated to the pioneers of German expressionist dance, the aesthetic developments since the beginning of the 20th century and the biographical breaks in dance after the National Socialists came to power, until the end of the Second World War.

It follows in the footsteps of central figures such as Rudolf von Laban and Mary Wigman in the flourishing German dance scene and brings to life how a movement supported by countless artists came to a standstill after 1933. The production also critically questions ambivalent attitudes, such as those of Mary Wigman and others.

Above all, however, it artistically focuses on the memory of the artists who were persecuted, expelled, suppressed from public consciousness or whose lives ended violently, ‘the invisibles’.

John Neumeier finds a completely free, narratively compelling form for this. The collage of dance, documentary scenes and live music from the period paints a moving picture of the emergence of this new dance form and its violent demise. The virtuoso young ensemble lending life to the dance rebels lends the performance a special authenticity. Each of the concretely narrated biographical episodes speaks its own choreographic language. They are artistic impressions of a spirit of the time that effortlessly connect yesterday with today – to create a new aesthetic statement that embraces empathy with the forgotten.

The accompanying exhibition adds another layer of remembrance and gives the invisibles a face through extensively researched biographies.

The premiere of the piece opened the Hamburg Ballet Days in 2022.
The Berlin premiere marks the conclusion of the Akademie der Künste's programme The Invisibles – Departure, Interruption and Tradition in Dance.

From the press reviews of the premiere:

“John Neumeier fulfils the promise of the title ‘The Invisibles’ with an incredibly powerful evening of dance and theatre. ... The Hamburg ballet director does not attempt to reconstruct the dances historically, but relies on his artistic power of association to paint a realistic picture. ... In the grand revue of the times, which Neumeier describes as a ‘dance collage’ that is by no means told chronologically, but in which the choreographer allows thematically justified, masterfully staged leaps in time, images emerge that get deep under your skin ...” Stefan Grund, Welt

“The context alone makes ‘The Invisibles’ an event ... But the piece is also an event because it captures its narrative in moving theatre and dance images and extends it into the present with intelligent sensitivity. The theme and its realisation together make ‘The Invisibles’ an outstanding event of the season coming to an end in Germany, with a significance that extends far beyond ...” Horst Vollmer, Tanz AT

“The fact that John Neumeier dedicates his almost three-hour evening to the invisibles, the persecuted from the world of dance, seems like a personal confession.” Peter Helling, NDR

National Youth Ballet John Neumeier
Artistic director and educational director: Kevin Haigen
Chamber music ensemble
Actors: Maximilian von Mühlen, Louisa Stroux, Isabella Vértes-Schütter

Concept, director, choreography & set design: John Neumeier
Additional choreography: Raymond Hilbert
Scientific consultation & dramaturgical collaboration: Ralf Stabel
Musical direction: Jay Gummert-Kock, Marshall McDaniel

The National Youth Ballet John Neumeier is a company of young international dancers who have completed their professional training. Under the artistic and educational direction of Kevin Haigen, they work together for two years. It was founded by the award-winning choreographer and long-time ballet director of the Hamburg State Opera, John Neumeier.

Exhibition on the biographies of the "invisibles”

Curated by Ralf Stabel
Design: Peter Schmidt

Wed–Thur 4–5 March
On both days from one hour before the start until one hour after the end of the performance
Haus der Berliner Festspiele, Foyer

Free admission

Thur 5 March
6 pm
Haus der Berliner Festspiele, Upper Foyer

Free admission

With ballet master Raymond Hilbert and the dancers and musicians of the National Youth Ballet

Fri 6 March
2.:30–4 pm
Akademie der Künste, Hanseatenweg 10, 10557 Berlin

The National Youth Ballet cordially invites people aged 60 and over to an open dance workshop. The starting point is a central idea of expressive dance: Dance arises from movement as a universal basic need of all human beings.

The workshop focuses on somatic awareness, musicality and creative expression. It is not about specific dance techniques, but about the joy of movement and the shared experience of dance.

The workshop is aimed at people with varying physical abilities and movement capacities. No previous dance experience is required.

Participation is free of charge. We look forward to receiving your registration at: kunstwelten@adk.de, T +49 (0)30 200 57 1564 / 1557