Those entering “Urgency” won’t find themselves in front of a traditional stage. The performers move through the entire space, right among the audience. This makes the environment itself part of the choreography, dissolving the boundary between observer and the action. Depending on where you position yourself, different dancers come into focus. A mysterious figure in a white coat appears again and again, like a recurring thread within a seemingly chaotic yet precisely choreographed structure. The atmosphere is strongly reminiscent of Berlin techno clubs: dark, intense, and full of niches where expressive dance scenes unfold.

Choreographer Renato De Leon explains that the central idea of the piece is based on the figure in the white coat, who initially moves through a euphoric, almost utopian world. This harmony is disrupted by the intrusion of the “normal world”, a reality characterized by rigid rules, regimes, and borders. The dancers represent various internal conflicts, each undergoing their own individual development. This process eventually leads them to come together to break through these imposed barriers.

This is Renato’s first production independently realized under his own label, Leonis Works. The performers include friends he has been collaborating and dancing with for years:

Created by queer artists and shaped by personal experiences of conflict, rooted particularly in Mexican-American border struggles, the piece reveals how power structures and social systems leave their mark on the body. Movement becomes a direct expression of lived reality. This site-specific approach demonstrates that borders are not abstract concepts, but realities that affect us physically and directly.

The performance feels profoundly personal, artfully translating internal conflicts into a stage experience. Each dancer brings a distinct style and individual energy to the space, yet, the choreographers have succeeded in merging these diverse movement languages into a cohesive narrative that remains visually striking throughout. As these personified emotions, represented by the dancers, eventually converge, the piece finds a beautifully harmonious and well-rounded conclusion.

The production features costumes by HADERLUMP, a Berlin label, which recently showcased its latest collection at Berlin Fashion Week. Technically, the production combines live dance, motion tracking, and projections into an immersive 360-degree environment. A politically charged soundscape, delivered via a d&b audiotechnik spatial sound system, surrounds the audience from all directions and completes the experience.

The performance can be seen on April 2nd and 3rd at Haus der Visionäre in Berlin. Shows start at 8:30 PM and 10:00 PM.