Ben Rentz

Ben Rentz was born in Karlsruhe in 2001 and works as a choreographer and director. He studied Performing Arts at the University of Hildesheim and Alma Mater Studiorum Bologna, as well as undertaking further training in dance and choreography in Amsterdam, Berlin, and Brussels.

Rentz was a scholarship recipient of the “Masterclass at ZKM” and, in 2022, devoted a research grant from the Fonds Darstellende Künste to the theme “the dancing body as a lived place of possibilities.” In 2023, he was part of the “Academy for Performing Arts Producer” as part of the Bündnis internationaler Produktionshäuser, followed by the artist lab “Producing Future Audiences” and the funding program of the Nationales Performance Netz “Producing Our Future.” In recognition of his high-performing, responsible work and commitment, he received the Deutschlandstipendium. Rentz is involved as a founding board member of “Perform! Verein zur Förderung der Freien Darstellenden Künste e.V.,” which was founded as the supporting organization for the future “Haus der Produktionen” in Karlsruhe. He gives performance workshops at ZKM | Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe and directed the Nachwuchsfestival “Schredder” at Theaterhaus Hildesheim.

Together with dramaturg Yoreme Waltz, he founded the compagnie ensemble ben rentz in 2022. His site-specific works are characterized by psychological questions and interweave the intersections between visual art and performance. Over the course of five years, he and his ensemble have developed a distinctive artistic practice through intensive cycles of improvisation and have already received multiple awards for their works (including TTdJ Berliner Festspiele). In 2026/27, the ensemble will be “Compagnie in Residence” at Tanzhaus Basel.

Full-length works and projects:

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, among others

His new choreographic work “la vita nuova” will be presented in Karlsruhe in summer 2026 and in 2027 at co-producer Tanzhaus Basel.