I’m Zoe Gyssler—a Swiss-Canadian artist raised between the Mallorca and Switzerland, now based in Berlin. As a performer, choreographer, and dance teacher, my work moves beyond the traditional. I focus on feminist and transcultural approaches, creating spaces where voices that are often overlooked are heard and their stories made visible. In my performances, I explore social issues that matter today, using movement and visual storytelling to raise questions and engage the audience on an emotional level. It’s about creating something real, something that moves people, both mentally and physically.

My goal? To challenge what’s comfortable and open up new dialogues.

I trained in stage dance at the Music and Dance Academy in Jerusalem and at the Varium School of Contemporary Dance in Barcelona. In 2013, I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Cultural Anthropology and Sports Science from the University of Basel, and that critical, questioning mindset continues to inform my work. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with incredible artists such as Johannes Wieland, Wim Vandekeybus, Maxine Doyle (Punchdrunk), Tom Weinberger, and others, each of whom has left a lasting impact on my artistic journey. Equally important was my time as a core member of the women’s collective Bufo Makmal, where I played a key role in shaping and choreographing works that toured extensively throughout Switzerland. Both experiences have been pivotal in defining who I am as an artist today.

Since 2016, I’ve focused more on my own voice and vision, developing dance theater pieces that have been presented in Switzerland, Germany, and the Netherlands. A major project that began in 2018, then “The Villager”, now called „The Acting Body Dances“, has been central to my work, exploring character and identity in deep, meaningful ways. Alongside my own practice, I teach dance classes and workshops at universities across Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Mexico, and Israel, sharing my approach with dancers and performers of all backgrounds.

In recent years, I’ve moved away from conventional theater spaces, preferring to explore the raw, inner lives of performers. It’s not about perfect form, but about emotional authenticity. Since 2021, I’ve also been working as a choreographer for state theaters in Münster, Ingolstadt, and Mainz, further expanding my creative reach in collaboration with a theatre directors, stage designers and sounddesigners.

At the heart of what I do is a commitment to feminist issues. I’m passionate about exploring the role of women in society and creating work that sheds light on their experiences. My art is a space for questioning norms, advocating for gender equality, and building a platform where women’s voices are front and center. I believe in the power of collaboration—born out of my own experiences growing up bilingual, living across cultures, and seeing the world from different angles. There’s no “right” way to see things—just different perspectives, and it’s in those differences where real connection happens.