Portrait Kareth Schaffer
© Andre Lewski

Kareth Schaffer

  • Fellow 2018
  • Choreografin, lebt in Berlin
  • Kooperationspartnerin: Evie Suyadnyani und Vaughan Hatch, Mekar Bhuana Centre for Classical Balinese Gamelan and Dance, Indonesien

Kareth Schaffer
Mekar Bhuana Centre for Classical Balinese Gamelan and Dance





Kareth Schaffer ist freie Choreographin und Performerin. Sie wurde 2016 zur Hoffnungsträgerin des Jahrbuch tanz gekürt und entwickelt ihre feinsinnig konzeptuellen, doppelbödigen und meistens humorvollen Stücke (u.a. "Unheard Of" (2016); das Schlammcatch-Turnier-Format „Dirty Money Mudwrestling“ (2015); oder das Tanz-Mystery-Musical “An Animal Went Out” (2016)) überwiegend in Berlin mit ihren langjährigen Mitstreiter*innen. Schaffer studierte Tanz (HZT Berlin) und Europäische Ethnologie (HU Berlin). Neben ihren choreographischen Werken arbeitet sie als Performerin für u.a. deufert&plischke, Tino Sehgal, und Stefanie Wenner. Schaffer doziert an der UdK Berlin und gastiert regelmäßig im In- und Ausland. Aktuell beschäftigt sie sich in “Cassandra Has Turned” mit der viel geschmähten Seherin Kassandra (Premiere Sophiensaele Berlin 04.2018).

Kareth und Evie Suyadnyani
Kareth und Evie Suyadnyani
© Mekar Bhuana Centre
Kareth und Evie Suyadnyani
Kareth und Evie Suyadnyani
© Mekar Bhuana Centre
Eröffnungsparade Pesta Kesenian Bali (Bali Arts Festival)
Eröffnungsparade Pesta Kesenian Bali (Bali Arts Festival)
© Kareth Schaffer
© Mekar Bhuana Centre
Lecture Demonstration an der Bali State Polytechnic
Lecture Demonstration an der Bali State Polytechnic
© Mekar Bhuana Centre
Unterricht mit Gamelan-Lehrer Pur
Unterricht mit Gamelan-Lehrer Pur
© Mekar Bhuana Centre
Im Studio
Im Studio
© Kareth Schaffer

Kareths Berichte


„It was interesting to see in Schaffer’s letter that she had such a strong feeling for Balinese dance, and to note her own surprise that she had learnt about this dance just recently in her life though having grown up in the Netherlands, which has a strong history with Indonesia. Her own work displays a conceptual approach, and strong theatrical elements combined with movement, we were struck by her desire to “tell stories” through dance and her notion that dance is not a very good medium to tell stories: Balinese dance revolves around telling stories! This partnership is exciting for many reasons: The distance that separates Kareth’s dance training and cultural environment from her chosen place of immersion promises a plunge into a totally new world, with all the stimulation, challenges and discovery such a journey will trigger on multiple levels, be it pure movement i.e. how you think and feel the movement, what typer of muscle structure is needed, to what motivates movement, and what it seeks to convey, express and portray, through specifically codified tools. We are very curious to see what will be the outcome in Kareth’s work and life, from this totally different approach to dance, movement and storytelling.“

- Aus der Jury-Begründung