Techno Meets Ballet in Neukölln: DANCÆ Transforms Abandoned Department Store with Rattleskin

This weekend DANCÆ, in collaboration with Define Creative, will present their new show Rattleskin, bringing four electrifying performances to Berlin from October 15 to 18. Taking over CANK, a former C&A department store spanning 2,000 m² on Karl-Marx-Straße in Neukölln, this ambitious site-specific project merges classical ballet, contemporary dance, spatialized video, and electronic music into an immersive, multi-sensory experience.

Deconstructing the Modern Self Through Sound and Movement

Spearheaded by DANCÆ founder and creative director Soraya Schulthess, Rattleskin explores deep psychological motives driving human behavior in today’s hyper-optimized world. The performance deconstructs modern ideals of desire, happiness, and self-improvement, raising a provocative question: At what point does the relentless search for the self become another way of escaping it?

Performed by DANCÆ’s official ensemble, Ballet Sur_real, the choreography bridges classical ballet technique and modern movement with the driving pulse of techno. The sonic backdrop features tracks by Alarico, Ogtrues, Innox Trax, Ignez, Temudo, and more, bringing a raw electronic edge to traditional ballet references.

Architecture as a Living Stage

Rather than acting merely as a backdrop, the stark, brutalist architecture of the abandoned department store becomes an active narrative element. As the building "sheds its skin," different environments unfold across the vast 2,000 m² layout, gradually revealing themselves to the audience through spatialized audiovisual art, new media installations, and choreography.

By breaking down the traditional barrier between performer and spectator, DANCÆ immerses visitors directly into the physical space, creating an accessible, deeply responsive artwork that caters to all the senses.

Event Details

Show: Rattleskin by DANCÆ & Define Creative

Location: CANK, Karl-Marx-Straße 95, 12043 Berlin (Neukölln)

Performance Dates & Times:

• Thursday, October 15 – 8:00 pm
• Friday, October 16 – 8:00 pm
• Saturday, October 17 – 7:30 pm
• Sunday, October 18 – 6:30 pm

Tickets available here.