2 locations in Berlin
DOCK 11 Prenzlauer Berg & EDEN Pankow
DOCK 11 EDEN is part of the diverse and international dance scene. It structurally and spacially connects the areas of production, pedagogy and presentation.
This connection leads to diverse changes of perspective, overlaps, synergies, mutual interest and understanding among artists, students, teachers, audience and visitors. The focus on dance, complemented by theater, performance, literature, music, visual arts, film and club style is linked in interdisciplinary ways.
Approximately 900 students, ranging in age from 2 to over 60, from beginners to professionals, dance in 90 classes each week. The group of teachers consists of a lot of different international personalities, including choreographers and dancers from Berlin and the national and international dance scene.
The renowned, successful and high-quality stage program at DOCK 11 usually changes on a weekly basis. Within Berlin's theatrical landscape, DOCK 11 presents dance and performance on stage through the whole year.
This social sculpture is unique in Berlin: space for dance, life and communication in all phases of life, for children's dance to professional training, for deep roots in the neighbourhood to branches out into the whole world, for origins in expressive dance to contemporary research, from a time without a fixed connection to the DOCKdigital Lab, for first choreographic attempts to an international career, for East-West city history from the fall of the Berlin Wall to the present day, for the internationalization of the city to gentrification (especially of Prenzlauer Berg). From one studio in 1994 to 11 studios and 2 locations in 2024, for rehearsals, performances and teaching. DOCK and EDEN are world-renowned anchor locations for dance, dance history and dance production.
DOCK 11
In a continuous process of content and spatial development, DOCK 11 has been growing since 1994. It is based in a factory complex and grew in three stages to 790 square meters until 1996. It is located in one of Berlin's liveliest streets, Kastanienallee in Prenzlauer Berg.
1895
The building of the factory at Kastanienallee 79 started. Dr. Kurt Rosenfeld, the son of the owner, became known as the criminal defense attorney of Rosa Luxemburg, Walter Bullerjahn and Carl von Ossietzky. His percentage of the site was confiscated by the Gestapo in 1933 for political reasons.
1994
Ninety-nine years later
Wibke Janssen and Kirsten Seeligmüller b. Niemann were looking for a rehearsal space for their dance theater. They rent 300 square meters of the factory space in Kastanienallee 79: SAAL 1. The old building structure gives DOCK 11 its special character and atmosphere.
In a gradual and entirely privately financed expansion, the pure condition of the rooms was recreated. Functional, technical and sanitary installations were made with particular sensitivity, so that they fit in timelessly, naturally and authentically.
In 1994, DOCK 11 began offering classes and occasional evening events in the rooms of today's SAAL 1. DOCK 11 got a lot of responses in a short time. The offered profi training boomed as well as the demand for DOCK 11 as a rehearsal and performance location.
1995
In 1995, DOCK 11 expanded by an additional 230 square meters. SAAL 2 is added as a rehearsal space during the day and a teaching studio in the evenings.
1996
Expansion of the theater hall: the floor plan, the aesthetics of the windows and walls were so convincing that it was added in 1996. The theater hall is currently supported by Berlin Senate Department for Culture and Europe.
EDEN
As the demand for rehearsal and production spaces grew continuously, DOCK 11 maintained additional temporary production spaces in gymnasiums or factory floors from 2000 to 2008. The need to improve the space situation for the artists has thus existed for a long time.
2009, DOCK 11 expanded by an additional 3230 square meters on a 4980 square meter property, EDEN. The new buildings include five studios, two villas and a remise. The construction costs were supported by the Stiftung Deutsche Klassenlotterie. The new immense spacial extension of EDEN, from 9 to 300 sqm, offers studios and production spaces to a lot of different disciplines. From November 2009, they served as a platform for new cross-genre artistic development and exchange.
Through a 60-year lease, artists, visitors, staff, students, etc. have the opportunity to use the location over a very long period of time. Movement and constant renewal by people of different generations and diverse themes weave and flow through the spaces. This is the foundation and reliable solid support in an ever confusing world.