Ben Rentz

Ben Rentz (he/they) was born in Karlsruhe in 2001 and works as a choreographer and director.

He studied »Scenic Arts« at the University of Hildesheim and took part in further training courses in dance and choreography in Amsterdam, Berlin, and Brussels.

Together with dramaturge Yoreme Waltz, he founded the compagnie »ensemble ben rentz« in 2022. His site-specific works are characterized by psychological questions and weave together the intersections between visual art and performance. In four years, he and his ensemble have developed a significant working method based on intensive improvisation cycles and have already received several awards for their pieces.

Productions include: 2020 »swallow it« Hofgut Scheibenhardt // 2021 “Gute Besserung” Tollhaus Karlsruhe // 2022 »ruminate« Tollhaus Karlsruhe // 2023 »transitions - circuit 1« Fleischmarkthalle Karlsruhe // 2024 »braeburn Act I & II« Pavillon am ZKM // 2024 »figuration« Franz Bernhard Haus Karlsruhe // 2025 »wunden« Staatliche Kunsthalle Karlsruhe

Rentz was part of the »Masterclass at ZKM« in 2020/21 and, in 2022, devoted himself to the topic »the dancing body as a lived place of possibilities« as part of a research fellowship from the Performing Arts Fund. In 2023, he was part of the »Academy for Performing Arts Producers« as part of the Alliance of International Production Houses and subsequently developed the artist lab »Producing Future Audiences« funded by the Performing Arts Fund, followed by the impulse funding of the National Performance Network »Producing Our Future«.

Rentz is involved as a founding board member in »Perform! Verein zur Förderung der Freien Darstellenden Künste e.V.”« (Association for the Promotion of Independent Performing Arts), which was founded as the sponsor for the future »Haus der Produktionen« (House of Productions) in Karlsruhe. He gives performance workshops at the Center for Art and Media | ZKM Karlsruhe and in 2023/24 he directed the young talent festival »Schredder« at the Theaterhaus Hildesheim.

He will present his new choreographic work »la vita nuova (AT)« in Karlsruhe in the summer of 2026.