Titelbild Selfdefence Yoshiko Kusano 2

Self-Defence

Charlotte Mathiessen

Illi, Eman Hussein

In this bi-weekly self-defence training, organized by Tanzhaus accomplice Charlotte Mathiessen, you learn different fighting techniques with the goal to understand your body as a safe-space. Every saturday morning we train together, improve our mental and physical strength and learn valuable skills for dealing with unsafe situations. The first four weeks we will focus on self-defence basics with Illi, using elements of Karate, Jiu Jitsu and Kickboxing. The second half of the training sessions are led by Eman where we will learn the basics of Wing Tsun Kung Fu and how to apply this technique to self-defence.

The best way to participate in the training is to take part in all the sessions or in the frist four or the last four sessions.

Trainings with Illi: 14.09. (Studio 2) / 28.09. (Studio 2) / 12.10. (Bühne 2) / 26.10. (Studio 3)
Trainings with Eman: 09.11. (Studio 3) / 23.11. (Studio 3) / 07.12. (Bühne 2) / 21.12. (Bühne 2)

  • Tanzhaus Zürich
    Wasserwerkstrasse 127a
    8037 Zürich
  • Wheelchair accessible

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • The training is not specifically designed for people with a disability. If you are interested, please contact us and we will forward your enquiry to the teachers: info@tanzhaus-zuerich.ch

  • The trainings are open to everyone but are aimed specifically at FLINTAQ* and their allies.
    *FLINTAQ is a German acronym and stands for people who idetify as female, lesbian, intersex, non-binary, trans, agender and queer.

Saturday, 11.01.2025
Clock 10:00 — 11:30

  • This event is free of charge
  • Duration: 1h 30m
Saturday, 25.01.2025
Clock 10:00 — 11:30

  • This event is free of charge
  • Duration: 1h 30m
Saturday, 08.02.2025
Clock 10:00 — 11:30

  • This event is free of charge
  • Duration: 1h 30m
Saturday, 15.02.2025
Clock 10:00 — 11:30

  • This event is free of charge
  • Duration: 1h 30m
Saturday, 08.03.2025
Clock 10:00 — 11:30

  • This event is free of charge
  • Duration: 1h 30m
Saturday, 29.03.2025
Clock 10:00 — 11:30

  • This event is free of charge
  • Duration: 1h 30m
Saturday, 12.04.2025
Clock 10:00 — 11:30

  • This event is free of charge
  • Duration: 1h 30m
Saturday, 19.04.2025
Clock 10:00 — 11:30

  • This event is free of charge
  • Duration: 1h 30m
Saturday, 26.04.2025
Clock 10:00 — 11:30

  • This event is free of charge
  • Duration: 1h 30m
Saturday, 10.05.2025
Clock 10:00 — 11:30

  • This event is free of charge
  • Duration: 1h 30m
Saturday, 24.05.2025
Clock 10:00 — 11:30

  • This event is free of charge
  • Duration: 1h 30m
Saturday, 07.06.2025
Clock 10:00 — 11:30

  • This event is free of charge
  • Duration: 1h 30m

Bild Yoshiko Kusano

Charlotte Mathiessen

Charlotte is a performer, choreographer and dramaturge. She studied contemporary dance at the Amsterdam University of the Arts and worked as a performer and choreographer for several years after graduating. In 2020, Charlotte moved back to Zürich and completed her master's degree in dramaturgy at the Zürich University of the Arts. Since then she has started working as a dramaturge in the independent scene.

As a dramaturg, choreographer and performer, Charlotte is concerned with interweaving feminist practice, dramaturgical thinking and artistic work. Curiosity, desire and anger are driving forces in her artistic processes.

Charlotte was selected for the newcomer platform Show-Off at Tanzhaus Zürich in 2022, took part in the choreography program ATLAS during Impulstanz in 2023 with a scholarship from Pro Helvetia and was part of PREMIO in 2024. As an accomplice of Tanzhaus, Charlotte is developing her first full-length stage work night body night voice in collaboration with Marquis' Mc Gee, Lilli Unger, Jo/Joseph/Josephine Baan and other collaborators. Since 2024, she has also been co-director of the Zirkusquartier Zürich, a theater dedicated to contemporary circus.

Illi

Illi and has 14 years of experience in martial arts (karate, jiu jitsu and kickboxing). They design their training to be beginner-friendly and a safer space for LGBTQ+ people. Illi has been teaching their own course for a year now and focus on accessible techniques, learning to react in proportionality to situations and teaching how people can mentally prepare for conflicts. Illi looks forward to being able to train you at Tanzhaus.

Eman Hussein

Eman Hussein is an Egyptian dancer, choreographer and dance filmmaker based in Zurich. She studied dance, street art, theater and martial arts. Her works merge labourers daily movements and contemporary dance, amongst other arts. Working with individuals outside of art institutions is her main inspiration. She collaborates with craftsmen and workers and lives with them to learn their movements inside their workshops. Her dance films combine aspects of public space and contemporary dance movement. They have been shown and awarded internationally.

She is interested in merging all the arts she is learnt so far, as she seeks to create artistic visual works of Contemporary dance, Martial arts, and Theatre. She is passionate about body’s natural movements in public spaces and workspaces, through experimenting with movements in spaces and attaching them to creative visual cues.

She studied Chinese martial arts and Chinese medicine at Meshkak Martial Arts School from 2016 to 2021 and was interested in martial arts because it's not just about strength but about channelling energy and how to be efficient when you move.