Die Etage

What happens when different performing arts meet under one roof?
The answer was once found at DIE ETAGE – School of Performing Arts in Berlin, a unique, state-recognized private school dedicated to professional training in contemporary circus, dance, acting, and physical theatre.

How did it all begin?
The roots of this remarkable institution go back to 1978, when the Czech mime Nils-Zdeněk Kühn, connected to Pantomima Praha and the legendary Laterna Magika, rented a factory floor in Kreuzberg. There, he began teaching mime, planting the first seeds of a much bigger vision, a place where all performing arts could coexist and inspire one another.

When did the vision become reality?
On May 1, 1981, this vision took shape. The school officially opened near Südstern, offering a wide range of courses across the performing arts. What started as an experiment quickly evolved into a full professional training institution. Mime, dance, acting, even flamenco, all found their place within its walls.

What made this school so special?
Its true strength was interdisciplinarity. Students were not confined to one discipline, they explored connections between movement, expression, and storytelling. Over time, new departments emerged, stage dance, visual arts, and acting, creating a vibrant artistic ecosystem.

How did it gain recognition?
By the mid-1980s, the school had developed a structured training concept based on integrated education. In 1986, it received official state recognition as a private school, and shortly after, its programs were acknowledged as equivalent to formal vocational training under German law. From then on, students could graduate as state-certified artists.

Who led the school in later years?
In 2017, Thomas Zimmermann took over leadership. Around 100 students at a time immersed themselves in a three-year training program, preparing for professional careers on stage.

Why did the school change and eventually close?
In its final phase, the institution refocused on its core disciplines, contemporary circus, dance, acting, and physical theatre, even redefining its name in 2021. Yet external pressures grew stronger: rising costs, fewer applicants, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

What was the final chapter?
In early 2023, insolvency proceedings led to the closure of the school. Its legacy, however, did not disappear. Many students continued their training through partner institutions, carrying forward the spirit of collaboration and artistic exploration.