#yodo – you only die once (GER) 2024-2025
Michi Maxi Schulz, Luana Àsiba Madikera and Virginnia Ogechi Krämer form a unique triple since collaborating for „#yodo -you only die once“ residency at Heizhaus Berlin in fall 2023. Coming from different backgrounds and interests such as traditional and urban african dance, acting, political organising, end-of-life care, dance education and poetic research, the three aim to further develop immersive artistic formats that invite people to get in touch with (their own) death, dying, grief and understanding of care work. They curiously curate containers to open up, exchange and learn together on these topics which are otherwise culturally marginalized in western contexts. Part of their emerging research is visiting dying people at local hospices, inviting death and grief experts for exchange and developing various artistic practices and scores around questions like: Would I regret anything if I would die today? Where can I feel grief in my body? What do I want to wear at my own funeral?
Parcitipating artists
Michi Maxi Schulz (GER)
Michi Maxi Schulz (she/her) is an performance artist and project manager in the performing arts scene in Berlin. Her projects connect the themes of intersectional feminism, anti-ableism, and critical whiteness. Her work consists of artistic, performative and political formats. Since 2016, Michaela has been deeply engaged with the topics of dying, death, grief and care (DDGC) and in 2017 she initiated the project “#yodo – you only die once.”
Since then, she has been collaborating with artists and experts to advance the destigmatization of DDGC through various artistic means. The overarching goal of #yodo is to establish a contemporary form of artistic knowledge transfer. Michi has been volunteering as a death and grief companion at the outpatient Lazarus hospice service Berlin for the last 8 years, accompanying many people in their final stages of life. Through her years of experience as a death and grief companion, she has become an expert through experience.
Luana Naquin a.k.a Luana Madikera (GER)
Luana Naquin a.k.a Luana Madikera (she/her) is a multidisciplinary dancer who uses poetry, words, images, music and performance in her practice. Luana specializes in modern and urban African dances as well as traditional Afro-Caribbean dances. She uses various improvisation techniques and dance techniques (contemporary, pole dance…). Luana is currently researching the African heritage of the Afro-Caribbean population.
She is exploring the concepts of resilience, black identity, resistance, intergenerational trauma and decoloniality through music, traditional and modern dances of different African cultures. Luana researches the somatic aspects of dance and how dance can be a companion to life situations (for traumas, emotions, life phases…). In addition, Luana works as a dance teacher and gives Afrofusion workshops and dance classes for dance schools, events and clubs. Luana is part of the Tropical Bass Band “La Byle“, with whom she regularly performs.
Virginnia Ogechi Krämer (GER)
Virginnia Ogechi Krämer is a performer, facilitator, interdisciplinary artist and parent. Their interests range from embodied social justice to afrofuturism to cultural identity-focused artistic research and ritual. In spring 2023 Virginnia was artist in residence at Emerging Change/Tanzfabrik Berlin which birthed their solo work ‘hair pulling‘ (WT). As part of FemBlack Performance Collective they premiered with their first production ‘another space/memory‘ at Berliner Ringtheater in fall 2023.
Virginnia has collaborated as a performer at Kampagel, GropiusBau, Sophiensäle, Heizhaus as well as Ballhaus Naunynstraße. Virginnias practice interrogates roots (past), body (present), hair (future) and is shaped and inspired by collaborations with Valerie Renay, Magda Korsinsky, Yagi Taffere, Zwoisy Mears-Clarke, Toni Böckle and many more. Their work currently emerges into new unknowns with a profound urge to integrate loss, genocide and (be)coming together.
Taken residency at
HELLERAU – European Center for the Arts
HELLERAU acts as an interdisciplinary and international centre for dance, performance, music, theatre and media arts. It offers spaces for productions, festivals, concerts performances, exhibitions and discourse, cooperates with various regional cultural partners and is firmly connected internationally. An important part of HELLERAU is a residency program, which offers opportunities for artistic research, networks, production and encounters throughout the whole year.
UP
The purpose of UP is to develop and upskill the independent performing arts throughout Denmark. We define the free and independent performing arts as individuals, collectives and companies who work professionally with performance and primarily for and with independent performance groups, project supported companies, and lesser established theatres. Often without permanent access to a stage or a venue.
Kunstplaats Vonk
Kunstplaats Vonk is a studio and residency space for visual and performance arts in Hasselt and Genk, Belgium. At their 3 buildings they support artists with artistic feedback, an international network, presentation opportunities, studio-space and a financial contribution (for the residencies).
Who is #yodo? How did you find each other?
#yodo, which stands for “you only die once,” is a project exploring themes of dying, death, grief and care (DDGC) through movement and artistic expression.
Michaela Maxi Schulz initiated this project in 2017 to destigmatize these often-taboo subjects and create a contemporary way of talking about mortality. Over time, #yodo has grown to include like-minded artists, including Virginnia Ogechi and Luana Madikera, each bringing their own unique perspectives from the performing arts, cultural research and dance. We connected through our shared commitment to addressing mortality and death in an open, accessible way.
Photo credit: Stephan Floss
What is your aim with Moving Identities?
With Moving Identities, we’re delving deeper into European identity, inclusion, and diversity, exploring how different societies and cultures engage with DDGC topics.
Our goal is to create a research space where we can learn from local perspectives, blending these insights into a cross-cultural dialogue about death, grief and the collective fears surrounding them. Through participatory workshops and artistic expression, we hope to make death and grief feel less intimidating and to create a space for personal and cultural exchange. We want to bridge art and knowledge transfer, promoting understanding, acceptance and destigmatization of mortality-related issues.
Photo credit: Stephan Floss
What are you most excited about in this program ahead of you?
We’re most excited about the chance to work and learn in different European cities, each with its own traditions and perspectives around death and grief. The opportunity to collaborate with local artists and citizens in places like Dresden, Hasselt and Copenhagen allows us to understand DDGC from multiple cultural viewpoints and build connections that can continue after the residency.
We’re looking forward to developing new, international interventions and discovering ways to open up dialogue about these subjects, allowing participants to explore and share their thoughts on mortality and identity in a supportive, creative space.
Photo credit: Stephan Floss
