Programme

Dana Michel

YOU CANNOT CAN

15.–17.8.2026

Age recommendation: 12 years

Duration 1 h 00 min

In “YOU CANNOT CAN”, Dana Michel explores her personal relationship with water and asks why swimming is not equally accessible or familiar to everyone. The piece combines humor with themes of fear, identity, and access to water.

How is it, Dana Michel wonders, that although her family hails from an island surrounded by both the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, she still cannot feel truly at ease in the water? Her new solo, infused with Michel’s characteristic humour, quirkiness, and sense of surprise, unfolds in a swimming pool. Immersed in global aquatic histories, she investigates the socio-economic realities of swimming and safe access to water. Staying true to her nomadic aesthetic and her multifaceted performance artistry, “YOU CANNOT CAN” is a watery, destabilising adventure that explores how we might begin to shake off fears. 

www.danamichel.tv

Tickets
Full 25 €
Reduced 17 €

We offer a special youth ticket for this performance. Children and young people up to the age of 14 pay a special price of 5 € when accompanied by an adult ticket holder. 

Additional service fees for booking online with Reservix apply.

German PremiereRelaxed Performance
  • Audio
  • Cast

    Concept, Choreography, Performance

    Dana Michel

    Artistic Activators

    Alex Samaras, Angélique Willkie, Heidi Louis, Karl Notargiovanni, Roscoe Michel, Sierra Holder, Simon Couturier, Tracy Maurice, Yoan Sorin

    Scenography Consultant & Technical Direction

    Romain Guillet

    Sound Consultant

    David Drury

    Set

    Dominik Stillfried und Celina Bodlée

    Distribution

    neon lobster – Giulia Messia, Katharina Wallisch

  • Credits

    Production SCORP CORPS – Dana Michel, Viva Delorme

    Co-production Arsenic – Centre d’Art Scénique Contemporain, Bergen Internasjonale Teater, Festival TransAmériques, Kunstenfestivaldesarts, Künstler*innenhaus Mousonturm, MDT – Moderna Dansteatern, O Espaço do Tempo, Tanzquartier Wien

    Funded by Canada Council for the Arts, Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Québec, Conseil des Arts de Montréal

    Residencies Baltic Triennial, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity – Leighton Artist Studios, Battersea Arts Centre, Centre de Création O Vertigo – CCOV, Festival TransAmériques, Fierce Festival and performance, possession + automation, Institutet, Kinosaki International Arts Center, Kunstenfestivaldesarts, marvaða, Rimbun Dahan, The Chocolate Factory, Toronto Dance Theatre, Tangente St. Pölten

    Supported by the Canada Council for the Arts and the Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Québec. 

    In cooperation with Hotel Oderberger / GLS Event Campus Berlin 

Further Information

Visitor note

Please bring your own pool slippers; upon entry, members of the audience will be asked to remove their outdoor shoes. Please note that it may be relatively warm inside, so please wear several layers of clothing that you can take off as required. Swimwear is not required for the performance; the swimming pool forms part of the stage and cannot be fully accessed by the audience. There are no seats provided for this event. Towels will be handed out free of charge on the day and can be used, amongst other things, as seat cushions; please return them at the end of the event. A limited number of stools are available on site for those requiring accessibility support. The audience is invited to sit at the edge of the pool and dangle their feet in the water. Due to the setting, the performer may come close to the audience. Noises and sounds are produced at a few points during the piece.
The piece explores the sensory and emotional experiences of learning to swim and being in a swimming pool environment.

This is a Relaxed Performance, meaning the audience is welcome to leave the performance space and return as often as they wish. There is a separate quiet room equipped with stimming toys, eye masks and noise-cancelling headphones, which can be used free of charge if required. Early boarding is available for those with accessibility needs. If you have any questions, please speak to the ushers. 

Dates of production

Location

Stadtbad Oderberger in the Hotel Oderberger
Oderberger Straße 57, 10435 Berlin

The main entrance to the Hotel Oderberger is not wheelchair accessible. However, wheelchair access is available via a platform lift located on the side of the building. The front desk has the key for this lift.

For strollers or suitcases, the small ramp leading from the main entrance to the lobby can be used.

The swimming pool on the ground floor is accessible via a platform lift and an elevator. From the reception area, you can reach the changing rooms in the basement. Access to the pool is via a staircase with a handrail. Unfortunately, there is no pool lift available.

Accessible restrooms are located in the swimming pool changing rooms.

There are 2 accessible parking spaces on the premises.

See all locations