SOUL STORM | SAMP AND BEANS WITH MY AUNT / (Rh)einfach Fest! DOUBLE BILL

KHARABA & GUESTS | YASMINE CALASSE

ABOUT

SOUL STORM

Khadidiatou Bangoura of KHARABA & GUESTS dances to German-language songs—challenging our preconceptions of what it means to be “German.”

When membership in a community is determined by external factors based onidentity traits, social rifts emerge that stand in the way of peaceful coexistence andsolidarity. In “SOUL STORM,” Khadidiatou Bangoura of KHARABA & GUESTS dances to German-language songs—challenging our prejudices, the concept of “being German,” and our relationship to Germany. From Hildegard Knef, Vicky Leandros, and Fasia Jansen all the way to Joy Denalane, Samy Deluxe, Grenzkontrolle, and Ebow—“SOUL STORM” presents a selection from the German-language music catalog and asks: Who and what is considered “German” by whom? Expectations and assumptions are examined, inviting reflection on who is denied “German-ness” and why—and who is not. At the same time, the project explores possibilities for “reclaiming” and reinterpreting German identity: toward greater recognition and acceptance ofdiverseways of being and different life realities.

In the context of the palpable political shift to the right—which, among other things, is causing (German) people with immigrant backgrounds to consider leaving Germany—“SOUL STORM” uses physical engagement to explore the mental and emotional dimensions of our current state of mind: What is the state of the “soul” of Germany?

ABOUT THE

TEAM

Concept & Choreography: Khadidiatou Bangoura

Dance / Performance: Khadidiatou Bangoura

Sound Design: Zen Jefferson

Costumes: Douakro Kante

Lighting & Technical Support: Sascha Görg

Artistic Consultant / Dramaturgy / Outside Eye: Horacio Macuacua

Production Assistant: Lisa Hellmich

Graphic Design / Press Photo: Melina Koulia

ABOUT

SAMP AND BEANS WITH MY AUNT

In an intimate stage setting modeled after a family dinner, the stories of the Born Frees—the generations born after the end of apartheid—come to life.

Apartheid was a system of institutionalized racial segregation enforced by the white minority from 1948 to 1994 that established the following ethnic categories: Whites, Asians, Indians, Coloureds, and Black South Africans—in precisely that order.

The performance is a physical homage based on intensive research into the life experiences of people of mixed heritage in South Africa during and after apartheid. The work explores the reclaimed term “Colored” and the question of what it means to be of mixed heritage. It unpacks conditioned traumas and complexities of identity while simultaneously telling stories of family members who lived under the apartheid regime. In doing so, the piece broadens its perspective beyond South Africa—to shared experiences of people of mixed heritage worldwide.

The piece creates space for joy, grief, reflection, and liberation, expressed through Yasmine’s distinctive movement language: intense physicality, body percussion, and grounded, rhythmic choreography.

ABOUT THE

TEAM

Artistic Direction and Choreography: Yasmine Calasse

Dance and Artistic Collaboration: Kevin Claudio Ponge Kassoma

Music Composition: Levin Weis

Pre-production support: Julie Ilner of Unskrewd

Design and Illustration: Balekane Leogoabe

Set Design: Yasmine Calasse

ARTISTS

SOUL STORM

Khadidiatou Bangoura

is a dancer, choreographer, and director of KHARABA & GUESTS. She is of Guinean and Liberian descent, was born in France, and grew up in Germany. She studied International Relations, Development Studies, and African Studies in London. She studied dance at Danceworks Berlin and at the Tictac Art Center in Brussels. Through dance, she explores our relationships with ourselves, with one another, and with the environment, seeking to create new narratives and foster greater self-reflection. Her works include “FEEL THE WORLD THROUGH MY SKIN: Observations on Everyday Racism,” “LIFE IS A JUNGLE: A Dance Performance for Blind, Visually Impaired, and Sighted Audiences,” and “PINKE PINKE: A Poetic Reflection on Money” (for ages 8 and up). Since 2024, she has been offering the inclusive workshop “DANCE TO THE MUSIC” and the improvisation format “PLAYTIME.” In 2024, she served as co-artistic director of the Sommerblut Cultural Festival; in 2025, she became a member of the advisory board for the FAVORITEN Festival; and in 2026, she received a grant from the KunstSalon.

SAMP AND BEANS WITH MY AUNT

Yasmine Calasse

is a South African-Moroccan contemporary and hip-hop dancer as well as an up-and-coming choreographer who lives in Cologne. She trained at the Dance Factory in Johannesburg as well as at Gibney and the Peridance Center in New York City. She is deeply shaped and inspired by her background in the street dance scene and maintains this connection in her work by remaining politically and socially engaged and addressing important issues. Notably, Yasmine presented her work “Confinement” at the Western Province Building in Cape Town and received an award for her production “It’s not what you think, allow me to clarify” at West Off 2025. As a dancer, Yasmine has collaborated with various choreographers and their works. Yasmine is a co-producer at AFIA and the founder of ReIgnite Sessions. In 2026, Yasmine is conducting research for her two upcoming productions, “Samp and beans with my aunt” and “Passed down to Transcend.”