Against the Grain Dance Festival Returns:

A Community-Led Celebration of Diversity and Radical Dance

– Against the Grain, the independent dance festival produced by choreographer and cultural organizer Manuel Meza, is set to return for its next edition in December 2025. The festival, now in its third iteration, has become a supportive platform for dancers and choreographers whose voices are often overlooked in the institutionalized dance world that is facing drastic budget cuts in recent years.

Unlike many large-scale cultural events, Against the Grain is proudly self-organized and non-funded—a testament to the resilience and commitment of the dance community in Berlin. Built from the ground up by artists for artists, the festival creates space for work that is experimental, urgent, and radically inclusive.

At its core, Against the Grain champions diversity, visibility, and equity. The festival prioritizes the work of POC, queer, trans, non-binary, and marginalized artists, highlighting the richness and necessity of perspectives that challenge conventional dance narratives. Each edition brings together emerging and established voices in an evening of short works that reflect the multiplicity of experiences shaping today’s contemporary dance landscape.

“Against the Grain is not just a festival—it’s an act of resistance,” says founder and producer Manuel Meza. “It exists because the community needs a platform where difference is not just tolerated but celebrated, where artists who are often denied space can take the stage on their own terms.”

The festival has quickly gained recognition as a community-led model of cultural production, proving that meaningful, boundary-breaking art can thrive outside traditional funding structures. By removing institutional gatekeeping, Against the Grain fosters direct collaboration, mutual support, and a sense of ownership within the dance community.

As the festival continues to grow, it invites audiences, collaborators, and supporters to join in witnessing the power of dance that moves beyond aesthetics—dance that carries stories of resilience, identity, and radical imagination.

Festival Details:

Against the Grain Dance Festival

For press inquiries, interviews, or additional information, please contact:
Manuel Meza, mmeza9009@gmail.com