Ana Lessing Menjibar is a German-Spanish director, performer, dancer, choreographer, transdisciplinary artist and researcher, born and based in Berlin. In 2020 she graduated from the performance art and research Master’s program, Solo/Dance/Authorship (SoDA) at HZT-Berlin, the Inter-University Centre for Dance of the University of the Arts Berlin (UdK) and the University of Performing Arts Ernst Busch (HFS-Berlin). Previously she studied Visual Communication in Berlin and Sydney, graduated in 2008 from the University of the Arts Berlin, and has been working for many years as an art director and publisher in culture and art. At the same time, Ana Lessing Menjibar has pursued a parallel career as a flamenco dance choreographer and soloist. A artform she has studied since early childhood.
In her actual artistic performative practice she weaves body, sound and text compositions into installation hybrid spaces, working with movement, choreography, electronic music, video, photography or sculptural elements. These are understood as an extended body practice to construct poetic worlds which offer her space to examine different physical states from formal to ecstatic. Here, she experiments with the transformative potential of flamenco in the context of performance and contemporary music and dance. In her performances the body is addressed as a unique source of sound and rhythm, extending the ability of sound to act as a performer in space.
In her ongoing research, she explores (body) knowledge and archives, individual and collective memories, wounds, and stories of resistance, as well as histories and narratives that are forgotten or untold. Her focus is on knowledge that is embodied and transferred from one body to another, examining, within a discursive contextualization, how it is carried through the body and society, and how these processes might be envisioned within future-oriented spaces.
She is a founding member of Mineralwasser Kollektiv, an international group of cross-disciplinary artists based in Berlin focused on constructing situations grounded in performance, movement, and community, as well as of Dry Ocean, a transcultural collective of artists and researchers from Dakar and Berlin exploring ideas of relationality and plurality.
In 2019 she premiered her performance Perpetual Archive at Uferstudios Berlin and in 2021 her solo Show Your Wound was shown at Centre Pompidou Málaga.The Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion supported her in 2021 with the Work and Research Grant and in 2021/24-25 with the Tanzpraxis Grant. In 2021/22, the Fonds Darstellende Künste supported her work with both residency grants and process funding for Third Skin. In 2023, the Hauptstadtkulturfonds Berlin supported her new production Third Skin and, together with the Berlin Senate, its revival in 2025 at Radialsystem Berlin in collaboration with Tanzfabrik Berlin. Third Skin's tour in 2024 was partially supported by the NPN guest performance funding. Ana Lessing Menjibar has performed, directed or exhibited at the Radialsystem, Tanzfabrik, Uferstudios Berlin, Sophiensaelen, Komische Oper Berlin, tanzhaus nrw, nGbK and the Chamber Music Hall of the Berlin Philharmonie (D), Villa Romana (IT), PHotoEspaña, Réplika Teatro Madrid or Centre Pompidou Málaga (E), among others. She teaches regularly at the University Centre for Dance (HZT-Berlin) , at the Berlin University of the Arts (UdK) and University of Performing Arts Ernst Busch (HFS).
Ana Lessing Menjibar lives and works in Berlin.
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Education
2018-2020 Solo/Dance/Authorship (SoDA) (Master)
At HZT-Berlin, the Inter-University Centre for Dance of the University of the Arts Berlin
2002-2008 Visual Communication (Diploma)
Graduation with honors in at the University of the Arts Berlin,
2005 Visual Communication at University of the Art Sydney ( NICA Scholarship)
2002-2018 Flamenco Master Classes with Dancers and Choreographers, Berlin and Sevilla. Andrés Marín, Eva la Yerbabuena, Farruquito, Juana Amaya, Leonor Leal, Andrés Peña, Ursula Lopez a.s.o.
1993-1997 Flamenco education with Celia Rojas “La India”, Berlin
1988-1993 Flamenco education with Manuel Moreno, Berlin
Teaching & Lectures (selection)
2025 Inter-University Centre for Dance Berlin (HZT-Berlin) / University of the Arts Berlin (UdK-Berlin) MA Solo/Dance/Authorship (SODA) – Seminar
2025 Inter-University Centre for Dance Berlin (HZT-Berlin) / University of Performing Arts Ernst Busch (HFS-Berlin) MA Choreography – Seminar & Tutoring
2025 HZT/UdK– BA Dance, Context, Choreography – Artistic Mentor
2024 Theaterakademie August Everding – BA Directing – Artistic Mentor
2024 Conservatoire de la Ville de Luxembourg – Lecture
2024 HZT/UdK – MA Solo/Dance/Authorship (SODA) – Tutoring & Master examination board member
2024 HZT/HFS Berlin – MA Choreography – Seminar, Tutoring & Artistic Mentor
2024 HZT/UdK– BA Dance, Context, Choreography – Workshop & Artistic Mentor
2023 Tanzquartier Wien, TQW Winter School – Lecture
2023 HZT/UdK– MA Solo/Dance/Authorship (SODA) – Tutoring & Artistic Mentor
2023 HZT/UdK – BA Dance, Context, Choreography – Workshop
2023 HZT/HFS Berlin – MA Choreography – Seminar & Tutoring
2022 HZT/UdK– BA Dance, Context, Choreography – Workshop
2022 HZT – OPENING Third Skin – Lecture
2022 HZT/HFS Berlin – MA Choreography – Seminar & Tutoring
2022 University of the Arts Berlin, InKüLe – Seminar
2022 Mousonturm Frankfurt – Bodies, un-protected – Workshop
2021 HZT/UdK – BA Dance, Context, Choreography – Workshop
2021 HZT/UdK – MA Solo/Dance/Authorship (SODA) – Artistic Mentor
2021 HZT/UdK Berlin – MA Solo/Dance/Authorship (SODA) and MA Sculpture Class Monica Bonvicini – Seminar in collaboration with Monica Bonvicini, Janez Janša, Sandra Noeth
2021 University of Applied Sciences Münster – Lecture
2020 Radialsystem Berlin. Artist-Residenz Lina Gómez – Workshop
2020 University of the Arts Berlin– MA Sculpture Class Monica Bonvicini – Lecture & Tutorial
2016 Art School San Telmo Málaga – Lectrue
2014 University of Applied Sciences Potsdam – Lecture
2013 Kommunale Galerie, Berlin – Workshop
2012 Skateistan Kabul, Afghanistan – Workshop
2010 University of Applied Sciences Dortmund – Lecture
2010 BTK Berliner Academy of Design – Lecture
2010 University of the Arts Berlin – Lecture
2009 University of the Arts Glasgow – Lecture
2009 University East London – Lecture & Tutorial
2009 Chead-Conference Berlin – Lecture
Grants & Residency (selection)
2025 Hauptstadtkulturfonds – Resumption funding
2025 Berlin Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion – Resumption funding
2024 Berlin Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion – Tanzpraxis Stipend
2024 Goethe Institut Madrid Residency
2023 Goethe Institut Madrid Residency
2023 Hauptstadtkulturfonds – Production Funding for Third Skin
2022 DIS-TANZ-SOLO Grant
2022 TakeHeart Residenzförderung – Fonds Darstellende Künste / HAU
2022 TakeHeart Prozessförderung – Fonds Darstellende Künste
2022 IFA Art Funding
2021 TakeHeart Residenzförderung – Fonds Darstellende Künste / tanzhaus NRW
2021 Senate Department for Culture and Europe – Arbeits- und Recherche Stipend
2021 DIS-TANZ-SOLO Grant
2021 Trust Residency, Portugal
2020 Senate Department for Culture and Europe – Tanzpraxis Stipend
2016 tanzhaus NRW Residency – Frágil production with Leonor Leal
2013 IFA Art Funding
2005 NICA Scholarship
Performance (selection)
Upcoming
2025 Tanzfabrik Berlin – Tanznacht Festival – Third Skin
Past
2025 Radialsystem, Tanzfabrik Berlin – Third Skin, Solo
2024 Réplika Teatro Madrid – Third Skin, Solo
2024 Zentralwerk Dresden – Third Skin, Solo
2024Farbrik Heeder, Krefeld – MOVE Festival – Third Skin, Solo
2024 MaF Málaga Festival, Spain – Third Skin, Solo
2024 tanzhaus nrw, Düsseldorf – Third Skin, Solo
2023 Uferstudios Berlin – Third Skin, Solo
2022 Centre Pompidou Malaga – Show your Wound, Solo
2022 Kunstverein Reutlingen – Show your Wound, Solo
2022 Sophiensaele, Berlin – Tanztage Festival – Perpetual Archive, Solo
2021 El Tanque, Tenerife – Keroxen Festival – Show your Wound, Solo
2021 HOTO Berlin – CAA Berlin Performance Series N°1 – Show your Wound, Solo
2020 Halle neun, Ingolstadt – Perpetual Archive, Solo
2020 Halle neun, Ingolstadt – Colores, Director and Choreographer
2020 Kunstverein Arnsberg – Art Summer – Perpetual Archive, Solo
2019 Uferstudios, Berlin – Perpetual Archive, Solo
2019 Uferstudios, Berlin – (Int)eruption. The Idea of a Second Heart, Solo
2018 Villa Romana, Florence – Somatolyse 2, Solo
2018 ArteReunido Festival, Zürich – Somatolyse 2, Solo
2016 Ateneo de Málaga – Ida y vuelta. Un viaje sensorial, Solo
Performance Collaboration (selection)
Upcoming
2025 Neue Nationalgalerie Berlin – Festival of Future Nows – Dry Ocean Collective
Past
2024/25 Work in progress showings in Potsdam, Paris, Turino – VASTA by Lina Gomez – Co-Creation
2024 Theater Thikwa Berlin – YA! by Angela Schubot aka Angela Vitovec – Outside Eye
2024 Goethe Institut Madrid – Episode three: Tránsito, Dry Ocean Collective
2024 Radialsystem Berlin – Vagarosa by Lina Gomez – Outside Eye, Movement Input
2023 IFAN Museum, Partcours, Dakar – Episode two: The opening, Dry Ocean Collective
2020 Dock 11, Berlin – /\/\/\/ ||, by Mineralwasser Kollektiv
2020 Galerie Ruttkowski;68, Köln – Begegnung, in collaboration with Eric Winkler
2019 Sophiensaele, Berlin – Dirty Debüt – dissociate, directed by Joseph Wegmann, performed by Mineralwasser Kollektiv
2018 Flutgraben, Berlin – Open Source – birdlike_creature, in collaboration with Mikala Hyldig Dal
2018 Uferstudios, Berlin – /\/\/\/ |, by Mineralwasser Kollektiv
2018 Tanzfabrik, Uferstudios, Berlin – Tanznacht – Remembering the Future – Tanzfabrik Berlin’s 40th Birthday! hosted by Mineralwasser Kollektiv
2016 Tanzhaus NRW – Frágil – Artist in Residency and premiere, co-directed by Leonor Leal (dance), Michio (music), Maura Morales (choreography) and Ana Lessing Menjibar ( Visual concept, Stage, Video)
Flamenco Solo & Choreography (selection)
2020 neun, Ingolstadt – Flamenco Festival – Colores, Director and Choreographer
2019 Babylon Berlin – Companía Azabache Flamenco, Soloist and Choreographer
2011-2018 Komische Oper Berlin – Carmen – Directed by Sebastian Baumgarten
Guest-soloist and Flamenco Choreographer
2018 Gewandhaus Leipzig – Companía Azabache Flamenco, Soloist and Choreographer
2018 Laeizhalle Hamburg – Companía Azabache Flamenco, Soloist and Choreographer
2018 Song Release & Performance at Lido Berlin – Spanish Footwork
Collaboration for the new album of Kid Simius Planet Of The Simius
2017 Performance and Choreography for Semi – Music video for Kid Simius feat. Kelvyn Colt
2017 Alter Schlachthof, Dresden – Companía Azabache Flamenco, Soloist and Choreographer
2017 Contemporary Tango Festival Berlin – Flamenco meets Tango, Soloist and Choreographer
in collaboration with Sven Elze (Tango dancer) and musicians Konjaleo
2017 Laeizhalle Hamburg – Companía Azabache Flamenco, Soloist and Choreographer
2017 Gewandhaus Leipzig – Companía Azabache Flamenco, Soloist and Choreographer
2016 Urania Berlin – Companía Azabache Flamenco, Soloist and Choreographer
2016 Rock im Park / Rock am Ring / Maifeld Derby – Tour with Kid Simius
2016 Gewandhaus Leipzig – Companía Azabache Flamenco, Soloist and Choreographer
2015 Flamenco Festival, Berlin – Homenaje a Oliver Farke, Soloist and Choreographer
2015 Urania Berlin – Companía Azabache Flamenco, Soloist and Choreographer
2015 Gewandhaus Leipzig – Companía Azabache Flamenco, Soloist and Choreographer
2014 Flamenco Festival, Berlin – Berliner Flamenco Nacht, Soloist and Choreographer
2014 Werkstatt der Kulturen Berlin – Companía Azabache Flamenco, Soloist and Choreographer
2013 Chamber Music Hall of the Philharmonie Berlin – Flamenco Concert, Soloist and Choreographer
2012 Waschhaus Potsdam – Los dos Tiempos, Soloist and Choreographer
2011 Flamenco Festival Würzburg – Los dos Tiempos, Soloist and Choreographer
2010 Chamber Music Hall of the Philharmonie Berlin – Flamenco Concert, Soloist and Choreographer
2009 Werkstatt der Kulturen Berlin – Flamenco Concert, Soloist and Choreographer
2009 Norway Tour; Kulturhuset Banken, Lillehammer; Konserthus Oslo; Blaue Grotte, Fredrikstad, Norway, – Entre Nosotros, Soloist and Choreographer
2009 Flamenco Festival Würzburg – Entre Nosotros, Soloist and Choreographer
2008 Chamber Music Hall of the Philharmonie Berlin – Flamenco Concert, Soloist and Choreographer
2007 Flamenco Festival, Berlin – Los dos Tiempos , Soloist and Choreographer
2006 Chamber Music Hall of the Philharmonie Berlin – Flamenco Concert , Soloist and Choreographer
2006 Tränenpalast Berlin – Companía Azabache Flamenco, Soloist and Choreographer
2005 Flamenco Festival, Berlin – Young Talents, Soloist and Choreographer
Research, Projects & Exhibition (selection)
Upcoming
2025 HZT Berlin Book Series – Research Article for Class edited by Sandra Umathum, Sandra Noeth & Janez Janša
2025 HZT Berlin Book Series – Art Direction – Class edited by Sandra Umathum& Sandra Noeth
Past
2025 Solo Exhibition – Radialsystem, Berlin – Layers of Skin
2024 HZT Berlin Book Series – Art Direction – Shielding edited by Sandra Umathum & Sandra Noeth & Janez Janša
2023 HZT Berlin Book Series – Art Direction – X-Ray edited by Shahram Khosravi
2023 IFAN Museum, Partcours, Dakar – Group show – Dry Ocean Collective, Episode two: The opening
2023 Group show – IFAN Museum, Partcours, Dakar – Dry Ocean Collective, Episode two: The opening
2021-22 Tanzhaus NRW – Working group – Volume up! Community of Practice
2021 Group show – Kunstverein Arnsberg – At A Moment In Time
2020 PHotoEspaña, 13th Edition – International Festival of Photography
Represented by Yolanda Ochando Obra Gráfica
2020 Group show – Galerie Yolanda Ochando Obra Gráfica – Postcards from Confinement
2018 Group show – Flutgraben, Berlin – Open Source
2018 Screening – Uferstudios Berlin – Premiere of Moosgrün, verschluck mich
2017 Group show – Exhibition Refugee Camp, Iraqi Kurdistan Region – Mother Love
2016 Screening – Video work Buleria
9Th Festival Les Instants Vidéo, Marseille (Friche la Belle de Mai) &
Buenos Aires – “Instants Vidéo Numériques et poétiques”
2016 Group show – Galerie Westphal, Berlin – Mother Love
2016 Solo Exhibition – Bienal Miradas de Mujeres 2016, Malaga, Spain – (Re)Tratando
Represented by Yolanda Ochando Obra Gráfica
2016 Group show – Larry, Berlin – The Larry Video Show – Screening. Video work Buleria
2016 Group show – Schaufenster, Berlin – TOPIC TROPIC – Screening. Video work Somatolyse
2016 Solo exhibition – Ateneo de Málaga – Ida y vuelta. UN viaje sensorial.
2015 Solo exhibition – Instituto Cervantes Berlin – Por Siguiriyas
2015 Group show – Artistweekend Berlin – NGORONGORO
2013 Artistic Director, Exhibition and Workshops – Kommunale Galerie Berlin – Once upon a time…
2012 Group show NGBK, Berlins – Machen die immer (noch) das Gleiche? Die NGBK probt ihre Kommunikationsfähigkeit.”
2012 Artistic director of the project Once upon a time … – Skateistan, Kabul, Afghanistan, Workshops and exhibition project
2012 Curation – DAZ, Berlin – Skateistan – The Tale of Skateboarding in Afghanistan, Exhibition and book release
2009 Exhibition and release event of the publication Berlin Haushoch # 3 – Charlottenburg at the Königlichen Porzellan Manufaktur, Berlin
2008 Exhibition and release event of the publication Berlin Haushoch # 2 – Der Wedding in the former Schering Galerie, Berlin
2005 Group show at Gallery Newspace, Sydney – Souvenirs
2004 Group show at Lichtturm Berlin, curated by Stefan Sagmeister – Design berührt Herz
2002-8 several group shows – University of the Arts Berlin
Publisher of / Artist Books & Magazines
2023 Hatje Cantz – INDEX Jeewi Lee
2014 A Mag for All Seasons – Winter Magazine #1
2009 Berlin Haushoch #3 – Charlottenburg
2008 Berlin Haushoch #2 – Der Wedding
2006 Berlin Haushoch #1 – Marzahn
Art Director for (selection)
for HZT-Berlin – University of the Arts Berlin, Rizzoli Edition New York, Hatje Cantz Edition, Dummy or Sleek Magazine, for Nike, Johann König – St. Agnes and NGBK – Neue Gesellschaft für Bildende Kunst, NGO´s as Skateistan, Water Integrity Network or Oxfam and many more. Publisher of Berlin Haushoch Magazin and A Mag for All Seasons.
Awards for Art Direction & Publishing:
2014 Stiftung Buchkunst / Shortlist – Die schönsten deutschen Bücher
2014 Nominated for the Designpreis Deutschland (German Design price)
2013 nomination Shenzhen Design Award for Young Talents / unesco-creative-cities-network
2013 Art Directors Club
2011 Nominated for the Designpreis Deutschland (German Design price)
2010 Sappi Ideas That Matter
2010 Nominated for the Designpreis Deutschland (German Design price)
2009 LICC
2009 iF Gold Award
2009 RedDot Award
2008 iF Award
2008 RedDot Award
2006 Art Directors Club Germany Junior Award
2006 Canon Pro-fashional Award
2006 RedDot Award