We, 11.2.2026

Th, 12.2.2026

17:00—18:20 Show

Vidmar 1

Trajal Harrell / Zürich Dance Ensemble

Tambourines
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A choreography inspired by literature
A piece about courage
The power of change
Agency.

Trajal Harrell‘s group work «Tambourines» is inspired by Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel «The Scarlet Letter». This literary classic tells the story of Hester Prynne, a 17th-century adulterous woman who is forced to wear a scarlet letter A on her chest as a symbol of shame. Divided into three acts – Fornication, Education, Celebration – Harrell’s piece traces the courage displayed by the novel’s heroine in impressive images. Dramaturgically, the piece does not follow the novel’s structure, but asks: what if the story had developed differently? If the character had been supported, not condemned? In «Tambourines», Harrell and the dancers of the Zürich Dance Ensemble have created an inspiring dance piece about courage, resistance and change. It can be read as being dedicated to all those women – in the past, but also the present – who are or were not allowed to make independent decisions about their bodies.

Biography

The American dancer and choreographer Trajal Harrell has been creating pieces for international dance and general theatres and museums for more than 20 years. His series of works «Twenty Looks or Paris is Burning at the Judson Church» laid the foundation for his international fame. Harrell was a resident director at the Zurich Schauspielhaus from 2019 to 2024 and is regularly invited to the leading international venues for dance and visual arts, presenting his works at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the Museum of Modern Art in New York or the Singapore International Festival of Arts, among others. The unique style of Harrell’s works is marked by an unusual combination of different dance idioms, such as voguing, postmodern dance and butoh. Fragility and humour are the central aspects running through all his works. In 2024, he won the Silver Lion at the Biennale di Danza in Venice for his oeuvre.

Accessibility

The performance spaces and toilets at Vidmarhallen are accessible to wheelchair users and there are nearby, signposted parking spaces for visitors with reduced mobility.

FM receivers with inductive neck loops are available at the box office for use with our hearing system. Headphones are also available.

Language

German and English

Others pieces available for touring

Judson Church is Ringing in Harlem (Made-to-Measure) / Twenty Look or Paris is Burning at the Judson Church (M2M), 2012, 3 dancers, 65 min
 The Return of La Argentina, 2015, solo, 30 min
 Caen Amour, 2016, 4 dancers/performer, 60 min
 Maggie the Cat, 2019, 10 dancers, 55 min
 Dancer of the Year, 2019, solo, 55 min
 The Köln Concert, 2020, 7 dancers, 50 min
 Sister or He Buried the Body, 2021, solo, 25 min
 Monkey Off My Back or The Cat’s Meow, 2021, 18 dancers/performer, 115 min
 Deathbed, 2022, 11 dancers, 150 min
 The Romeo, 2023, 14 dancers, 75 min
 Tambourines, 2024, 7 dancers, 80 min
 Arena - part of the collection, 2025, 2, dancers, 25 min
 A Ghost Ballet - part of the collection, 2025, 4 dancers, 35 min
 The Powder Rooms - part of the collection, 2025, 5 dancers, 15 min (in loops)
 Education in Tambourines or the Celebration of the Girl Child - part of the collection, 2025, 6 dancers, 50 min
 Five Friends in Five Acts - part of the collection, 2025, 3 dancers, 30 min

Booking contact – Björn Pätz - Management, International Relations & Touring
bjoernpae@googlemail.com

Credits

Staging, choreography, set design, costume design, soundtrack Trajal Harrell

With New Kyd, Perle Palombe, Trajal Harrell, Songhay Toldon, Vânia Doutel Vaz, Ondrej Vidlar

Alternate dancers Alicia Aumüller, Frances Chiaverini

Rehearsal directors Stephen Thompson, Vânia Doutel Vaz

Lighting Sylvain Rausa

Sound design Trajal Harrell, Santiago Latorre

Rehearsal directors Stephen Thompson, Vânia Doutel Vaz

Dramaturgy Katinka Deecke

Technical team Susanne Affolter, Liv Senn, Pablo Weber

Tour Management Cynthia Naef

Management, Touring & International relations Björn Pätz

Production Schauspielhaus Zürich

Co-production Festival d’Automne, Les Spectacles Vivants – Centre Pompidou

Support Müller-Möhl Foundation & Trajal Harrell, Zürich Dance Ensemble Fan Club

Venue

Vidmar 1
Könizstrasse 111, 3008 Bern
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Tickets

12.2.2026, 17:00—18:20
Vidmar 1

Fr, 13.2.2026

Sa, 14.2.2026