about.

Artistic Director · Choreographer · Performer · Composer · Movement Researcher

Profile

Howard Katz is a New York City born choreographer, performer, composer, movement researcher and cultural producer based in Berlin. For more than four decades he has developed interdisciplinary performance practices that bring together choreography, live music, contemporary circus, theater, improvisation and somatic research.

His work is grounded in collaboration and artistic experimentation, exploring movement as a shared language that connects physical intelligence, musicality and human interaction. Rather than working within a single discipline, Katz develops performance environments in which choreography, sound, space and live presence continually influence one another.

Over the course of his career he has created and directed more than fifty original productions presented throughout Europe, North America, Korea and Africa, composed ten albums of original music (howardkatzmusic.com), and collaborated with internationally recognized artists across dance, theater and performance.

Alongside his own artistic practice, Katz has become an important figure within Berlin's independent performing arts landscape through his sustained commitment to artistic development, mentoring and cultural infrastructure.

Artistic Leadership

Howard Katz has spent more than forty years creating not only performances, but also the artistic structures that make independent performance possible.

From 1985 to 1992 he founded and directed the RAP Arts Center in New York City, an artist-run dance studio and performance space that supported contemporary dance training, choreography and independent production during a formative period for New York's downtown performance scene. During this time he also founded the independent production company Oversights, through which he created and produced numerous original choreographic works.

Since relocating to Berlin, Katz has continued this commitment to artistic infrastructure. In 2017 he co-founded Q Space Berlin, where he serves as Artistic Director. Under his leadership, Q Space has developed into one of Berlin's few year-round production and development centers dedicated to contemporary circus, dance and interdisciplinary performance, providing rehearsal space, residencies, artistic research, professional training and public presentation opportunities for independent artists.

Together with Liz Williams he also founded SAVANT GbR, expanding opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration, artistic exchange and community engagement.

Artistic Practice

Since 2014 Howard Katz and Liz Williams have collaborated as an interdisciplinary performance company combining contemporary circus, choreography, live music and theatrical performance.

Working primarily with the Counterweight Rope apparatus, their performances merge technical precision with live composition and physical storytelling, creating works that balance intimacy, risk and musicality. Their productions have toured widely and have been presented by festivals, theatres and variety venues throughout Germany.

Recent Choreographic & Performance works include:

Earlier choreographic dance-theater works include:

Selected Artistic Collaborations

Howard Katz has collaborated with internationally recognised choreographers, performers and institutions including:

Teaching, Research & Movement Development

For more than forty years Howard Katz has taught choreography, movement research, improvisation and interdisciplinary performance throughout Europe, North America, Asia and Africa.

He has taught and led workshops at institutions including HZT Berlin, Tanzfabrik Berlin, Tanzhaus NRW, Dock 11 Berlin, Impulstanz Vienna, Batsheva Dance Company, the University of Tel Aviv, African National Ballet, Die Etage Berlin, Marameo Berlin and numerous international festivals and educational institutions.

Katz is the creator of the **Five Qualities (5Q) Movement System**, an interdisciplinary movement methodology synthesizing contemporary dance, martial arts, somatic practice and improvisation. His research investigates how efficient movement principles can support artistic performance, creativity and everyday physical wellbeing.

In addition to his artistic practice, he is a licensed Feldenkrais Practitioner and licensed Heilpraktiker in Germany.

Selected Funding

Projects created or directed by Howard Katz have received support from:

Languages