“TUM tanzt! 2026”: “Bodies in Motion – Minds in Transformation”

Following its successful debut last year, “TUM tanzt! 2026” is entering its second round. Under the motto “Bodies in Motion – Minds in Transformation,” the initiative will offer a diverse program from summer through autumn, bringing people together through movement and opening up new spaces for thinking and experience.

“Bodies in Motion – Minds in Transformation” explores the close connection between body and mind as described and examined in embodiment research. According to this field of study, physical experience can serve as a catalyst for mental transformation and can influence, for example, self-perceptions, perceptions of others, and attitudes. Change therefore begins not only in thought but also in experience, action, and shared movement. The workshops, performances, and discussion formats of “TUM tanzt!” aim to create opportunities to experience dance not only as an art form, but also as a catalyst for social dialogue, personal development, and scientific reflection.

“With ‘TUM tanzt!’, we want to create an open space where people can connect through movement while reflecting on social and scientific questions. Dance offers the opportunity to discover and develop new perspectives in a creative way based on a holistic experience,” explains Dr. Tina Schwender, Lecturer for Special Tasks at the Operational Unit Applied Sports Science.

The initiators of “TUM tanzt!” are the Gymnastics & Dance Department of the Applied Sports Science Unit and the TUM Center for Culture and Arts. The initiative aims to highlight dance as a connecting element between research, culture, and society while creating new forms of interaction and exchange.

The various events invite participants to actively engage, explore different perspectives, and discover the diverse potential of dance for education, health, and social participation. Examples include the “Choreographic Laboratory,” which provides students with space for creative expression, the performance “Lake Life” by Kate McIntosh, and the discussion event “Bodies in Motion – Minds in Transformation?!”, which brings together perspectives from the arts, research, and education.

You can find the link to the “TUM tanzt! 2026” program overview and registration here: https://www.tum.de/en/community/campus-life/music-and-arts/center-for-culture-and-arts

The project is supported by the TUM University Foundation and the TUM Future Learning Fund.

Visit the homepage of the Operational Unit Applied Sports Science
Visit the homepage of the TUM Center for Culture and Arts and “TUM tanzt! 2026”

Contact

Dr. Tina Schwender
Operational Unit Applied Sports Science
Am Olympiacampus 11
80809 Munich

Phone: +49 89 289 24613
Email: tina.schwender(at)tum.de

Text: Bastian Daneyko
Photos: Private