Exhibition "The Collision of Freedom" - Program in Bremen

Photo: Paweł Jóźwiak

The Collision of Freedom

Nazi persecution of Czech, German and Polish swing dancers and jazz musicians

Trinational exhibition from August 22 to September 14, 2025

Gallery of the University of the Arts (HfK)
Dechanatstrasse 13-15
28195 Bremen

Accompanying program:

August 22, 7 p.m. Exhibition opening with partners from the Czech Republic and Poland, in the HfK gallery
Followed by live music by Jakub Šafr & Swing Trio Avalon with social dance
Venue: Gallery of the HfK

August 24, 3 p.m. Lecture by Petr Koura on the persecution of Czech jazz musicians and the Czech swing youth by the Nazi regime
Afterwards: Tea Dance
Venue: Evangelische Studierendengemeinde Oldenburg, Schützenweg 40, 26129 Oldenburg

September 5, from 7 p.m. Bremen Babylon Bohème, the dance night at Bali’Ku with original swing shellac records by DJ Guido Bolero
Venue: Bali’Ku, Werderstraße 60, 28199 Bremen

September 6, 7 p.m. Film screening “Django – A Life for Music”, plus film discussion with Django Heinrich Reinhardt
Venue: Gallery of the HfK

September 6, 7 or 13 Workshops with Agnieszka and Konrad from Harlem Beats/Gdynia (on request)
Venue: Gallery of the HfK

September 6, 7 or 13 Swing Walk: City tour in the footsteps of Bremen’s swing youth
Meeting point: in front of City 46, Birkenstraße 1, 28195 Bremen

September 12, 7 p.m. Talk about Sinti Swing with Dardo Balke and Nico Thom, followed by a concert by the Dardo Balke Ensemble with Social Dance
Venue: Gallery of the HfK

NS-Injustice "Degenerated Music"

The transnational project takes a comparative look at the Nazi persecution practices of the northwest German swing youth, the Czech potapki and the swing and jazz music scene in occupied Poland and develops multi-perspective, interdisciplinary and participatory mediation formats.