SoftMachine: The Return at tanzhaus nrw: Body, history, and present in Düsseldorf
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About this Event
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An evening between body memory, dance, and moving presence
With SoftMachine: The Return, Choy Ka Fai returns to tanzhaus nrw and opens a stage laboratory, where biographies, research, and performative precision intertwine. The production condenses a research that has grown since 2012 about contemporary dance in Asia into a vibrant archive, utilizing solo formats, lecture elements, and documentary sharpness. The performance venue is the Große Saal of tanzhaus nrw in Düsseldorf; the performance night on 23.10.2026 starts at 20:00, and tickets begin at 18 Euros. ([tanzhaus-nrw.de](https://tanzhaus-nrw.de/en/event/2026/10/softmachine-the-return))
An archive that breathes on stage
Choy Ka Fai does not view dance as a finished work but as a writable memory. The research for SoftMachine collects field research, interviews, and encounters with more than 80 artists; in The Return, this material is not exhibited in a museum-like fashion but transformed into a new present. Thus, a stage experience is created that intertwines analysis and emotion, distance and intimacy. ([tanzhaus-nrw.de](https://tanzhaus-nrw.de/en/event/2026/10/softmachine-the-return))
Biographies in the spotlight
At the center are performative solos by Rianto and Surjit Nongmeikapam. Rianto presents an intimate self-portrait between desire, gender, and tradition; Surjit Nongmeikapam narrates a journey from the societal periphery to the political center. Both works show how bodies carry memories, how dances are shaped by experiences, and how individual stories inscribe themselves into a larger social dramaturgy. ([tanzhaus-nrw.de](https://tanzhaus-nrw.de/en/event/2026/10/softmachine-the-return))
Directing between lecture and poetry
The staging consciously moves between performance, lecture, and documentation. This is precisely the strength of this evening: It does not invite mere watching but encourages reflection. The direction focuses on condensation instead of illustration, on physical presence instead of explanatory gesture. This gives the evening a subtle, resonant tension that is particularly effective in the theater atmosphere of tanzhaus nrw. ([tanzhaus-nrw.de](https://tanzhaus-nrw.de/en/event/2026/10/softmachine-the-return))
tanzhaus nrw as an open space for contemporary dance
The tanzhaus nrw is located at Erkrather Straße 30 in Düsseldorf, within walking distance from Worringer Platz and the main train station. Approximately 40 free parking spaces are available on-site, while public transport is recommended. The building is on the ground floor and is almost barrier-free accessible; accompanying persons have free admission, and assistance dogs are welcome. ([tanzhaus-nrw.de](https://tanzhaus-nrw.de/de/dein-besuch))
Conclusion
SoftMachine: The Return promises an evening for people who appreciate dance as a space for thinking and theater as a space for experience. Those interested in contemporary choreography, artistic research, and precise stage art will experience a strong, multifaceted live format here. Definitely see it live and discover the evening in Düsseldorf with the full intensity of body, voice, and memory. ([tanzhaus-nrw.de](https://tanzhaus-nrw.de/en/event/2026/10/softmachine-the-return))
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- Website: https://tanzhaus-nrw.de/en/event/2026/10/softmachine-the-return
