Two smitten penguins, playful seals, a lazy caravan of camels, a hen laying eggs, dog, cat, and elephants – in her work for very young children, choreographer Célestine Hennermann has explored the movements of animals and researched their movement patterns choreographically. How does the penguin walk in comparison to humans and how exactly does an elephant move? The aestheticisation of animal movements through dance forms the basis of this work.

Two dancers bring these questions to life on stage and transport their young audience into a world of big and small surprises. Dozens of colorful pails in various forms and sizes offer sheer endless possibilities for transforming the stage. A sound collage composed by Gregor Praml supports „elephant walk” as it becomes a landscape of ice and snow, a farm, hoofs, paws, water or clouds.

HENNERMANNS HORDE is the name of the dance company led by Frankfurt-based choreographer Célestine Hennermann. Since 2009, the former Forsythe dramaturge has been working in the dance sector for different age groups – from the very youngest to teenagers. The focus is on researching movement languages for young audiences.

Building bridges between Dresden and Frankfurt 

In the season 2025/26, the DFDC wants to further strengthen the connection between Dresden and Frankfurt and, with the support of the Aventis Foundation, is bringing a piece for children and families to the other city. “Was geht, Erdling?” by Dresden choreographers Caroline Beach and Saida Makhmudzade will be performed in Frankfurt, and “elephant walk” by the Frankfurt-based company Hennermanns Horde will be presented in cooperation with HELLERAU – European Center for the Arts in Dresden.