BARZAKH
Work-in-Progress
| Date: | We 12.08.2026 |
| Doors: | 17:45 hour |
| Time: | 18:00 hour |
| Location: | ZQ-Bühne |
| Price: | Hutsammlung |
| Duration: | approx. 20 minutes |
| Age: | From 8 years |
| Language: | FR/EN/AR/DE |
| Immersion between earth and sky: Barzakh is an upcoming creation merging aerial and contemporary dance with digital art. The project marks the first artistic collaboration between Swiss artist Léa Thomen and Moroccan artist Wajdi Gagui, brought together through a shared desire to create a space between two worlds — two cultures, two countries, and two ways of being. Rooted in a contemporary context that both connects and divides, Barzakh interrogates a fundamental question: Who do we want to become together? Motivated by the challenges of integration and embracing differences as strengths, the artists search for a delicate balance between reality and imagination. Through suspended bodies and poetic imagery, the piece moves between gravity and weightlessness, autobiography and fiction. For this first showing, the focus lies solely on the physical and poetic language of aerial movement — a distilled glimpse into the research process. The digital art elements will be developed and integrated in future residencies. |
Company
HorizonVertical (CH)
HorizonVertical is a contemporary dance-theatre company based in Thurgau, Switzerland, founded by French choreographer and interdisciplinary artist Léa Thomen. The company’s work explores the intersection of contemporary art forms such as aerial dance, poetry, visual arts, and live music, creating immersive and interactive environments that reflect Léa’s multidisciplinary vision and foster meaningful sensory encounters between performers and audiences. HorizonVertical has been recognized for its innovative approach, receiving the Förderpreis Choreografie from TanzPlan Ost and the Société Suisse des Auteurs in 2018 for the piece Nachtfeder.
Col’jam (MA.)
Col’jam promotes art and cultural diversity in Morocco, making artistic expression accessible to all. The company highlights contemporary dance in dialogue with street arts, visual and graphic arts, and music. It supports creation, training, and the dissemination of artistic work, fostering experimentation and professional development. Col’jam also leads educational and social projects in collaboration with Moroccan and international cultural partners.
Credits
| Co-Choreographer, dance | Léa A. Thomen |
| Co-Choreographer, Dance | Wajdi Gagui |
| Music, Visual Art | Jad Mourid |
| Outside Eyes | Mirjam Steiger, Caroline Finn |
| Dramaturgy | Simone Truong (TBC) |
| Light design | Lukas Marian (TBC) |
| Production Management | Matthias Kreinz, Manuela Hollenweger |
Audience information
Accessibility
The Zirkusquartier is wheelchair accessible. You can find more information here.
Awareness
To ensure that everyone feels comfortable in the Zirkusquartier, we want you to be conscious and mindful. The Zirkusquartier opposes all forms of discrimination. You can find more information about awareness here.
Hat collection
In a work-in-progress, the artists decide whether they want to make a hat collection or not.
Age
Please note the age information.
This production is supported by:
