Radical Tenderness—A Transformative Movement Practice

In a world increasingly marked by violence, shared tenderness is a radical act. We, janne&tabea, have been exploring for a few years now what society might look like if tenderness could be taught as a practice. As something that doesn’t just take place in intimate spaces, but can also be shared with strangers. For us, tenderness isn’t just about being gentle and loving; it can also mean disagreeing with one another without losing our connection.

At the heart of this educational format is physical expression. We see the human body and its capacity for expression as the common denominator that connects us all, regardless of political orientation. This workshop is therefore designed to bring us back to the intuitive knowledge of our bodies, foster democratic dialogue, and make other forms of solidarity possible.

The idea behind the workshop is to explore, together with the participants, what knowledge about tenderness is already stored in our bodies. We are convinced that every person is capable of practicing tenderness. Through movement-based (improvisational) exercises, we aim to activate this vocabulary of tenderness within our bodies and explore it through shared interaction. Participants can expect guided exercises designed to help us connect on a different—non-everyday—level. These interactions include the exchange of glances, gestures, and touch, while ensuring that each participant’s boundaries are respected and that everyone feels comfortable. We hope that participants will leave with a new perspective on their bodies’ capabilities, that after the workshop they will navigate everyday life with a different awareness, and that they will be able to discover and practice more moments of tenderness.