The next KabuKlub will take place on July 3 and 4, 2026, at Kulturhaus Karlshorst, with support from the Lichtenberg District Cultural Fund.
Kulturhaus Karlshorst Treskowallee 112 | 10318 Berlin
Friday, July 3, 2026 – 7:00 PM
Saturday, July 4, 2026 – 7:00 PM
Admission: €10, reduced €3 Tickets available at the box office!
For students, pupils, and citizens with proof of eligibility.
For all dancers and musicians who would like to join us and rehearse with us: The dance rehearsals will be held on: June 30, July 1 and 2, each day
ELEKTRO KAGURA presents ‘KabuKlub’, inspired by traditional Japanese Kabuki dance and fused with Berlin’s club culture. Directed by Ichi Go, the piece actively engages the audience and unleashes the raw energy of a Berlin club. Costumes made from second-hand garments are extravagantly designed by Hibiki Kawahara and Regina Gyr (Kostüm Kollektiv e.V.). Music composed by AXL OTL is performed live with guest musicians. Stage design and digital projections: Yukihiro Ikutani. Dancers and visual artists participate both on stage and as performers.
In traditional Kabuki theatre, only men are permitted to perform, playing both male and female roles. However, if one considers the origins of Kabuki dance, it becomes clear that the style was originally developed by a woman, Okuni (1572–1613?). Okuni was employed at a renowned shrine and performed her dance style at various locations throughout Japan. Her dance became so famous that it eventually gave rise to Kabuki dance.
Her dance style challenged gender roles in particular: Okuni took on male roles, whilst her partner played female roles. She drew inspiration from the so-called ‘Kabuki Guys’ – eccentric and unconventional figures who dressed extravagantly and displayed rebellious behaviour. Okuni incorporated this aesthetic and philosophy into her dance by having herself and her dancers swap gender roles. This defiance of social norms captivated the audience, and eventually the dancers and spectators merged into a community that danced together passionately and exuberantly.
A similar dynamic can be found in Berlin’s clubs, where social norms and conventions are broken and people dance day and night, with gender roles often becoming blurred. ELEKTRO KAGURA highlights these similarities between present-day Berlin and Japan of yesteryear, building a cultural and temporal bridge through this piece.
ELEKTRO KAGURA Team
Yukihiro Ikutani | Ichi Go | Cédric Douhaire | Ryota Maeda | Yvonne Leppin | Olga Simchuk | Laura Sophie Heise | likabari, Gałgał | Lena Hoepfner | Karim Karel | Andreas Heilig | Mayuko Hiramatsu | Betty Despoina Athanasisdou | Udo Wiegand | Theo Tranca | Joshua Remsanga Sailo | Akane Nishimura
