Fotografie Forum Frankfurt
Braubachstraße 30-32, 60311 Frankfurt am Main
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Workshop
TONY RIZZI“THE MOVEMENT IN OURSELVES AND OTHERS: GESTURES, BODY LANGUAGE, AND MOVING IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA”
“THE MOVEMENT IN OURSELVES AND OTHERS: GESTURES, BODY LANGUAGE, AND MOVING IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA”
Saturday/Sunday,
October 31/November 1st, 2026, 10 am–2 pm
Subjects
photography, portraiture, movement, performance, body language, gesture, posture, observation, dance, rhythm, facial expressions
Workshop programme
Oct 31, 10 am–2 pm: The Body in Motion:
The first day focuses on the body as a source of expression, movement, and photographic possibility. Tony will introduce examples of gesture, posture, and body language, demonstrating how subtle physical choices influence the emotional and visual impact of a photograph, followed by movement and photography based exercises. Interactive photos sessions with Tony serving as the model, allowing participants to apply the ideas explored throughout the session while photographing him in motion.
Nov 1st, 10 am–4pm: Expression and Connection
The second day begins by revisiting some of the movement and improvisational practices introduced on the first day, this time incorporating gentle contact and interaction between participants, to encourage greater awareness of relationship, proximity, and the subtle ways people influence one another through movement and presence. The photographs of the first day will be reviewed and building on the observations, participants will work in pairs and small groups to photograph one another again, this time shifting the focus from the whole body to facial expression, portraiture, and the nuanced communication of emotion. The workshop concludes with a group review and discussion of the photographs, reflecting on how movement, observation, and collaboration can deepen photographic practice.
Preparation
There's nothing you need to prepare before the workshop. If you're curious, though, Rizzi encourages participants to watch a few dance films for inspiration. After registration we will offer links to films which are rich with the simple act of a gesture becoming something else.
Equipment
Camera and laptop, loose clothes to move in and a towel in case it gets sweaty.
Location
Fotografie Forum Frankfurt
Braubachstraße 30–32
60311 Frankfurt
Tony Rizzi, Selbstporträt, © Tony Rizzi, 2026
Language: German
Price members: 150 EUR
Price non members: 200 EUR
Number of participants: Min. 8 / max. 10
Registration deadline: October 22, 2026
Duration: 2 half days
Renowned dancer, choreographer, actor and photographer Tony Rizzi explores how movement—both physical and implied—can expand photographic practice. Drawing on his background in dance and his collage-based visual work, Rizzi approaches the body as a dynamic source of rhythm, expression, and narrative. Centered on photographing people, the workshop is particularly relevant for photographers, dancers, actors, models, coaches, artists, influencers - anyone interested in body language, behavior, and the ways people interact with their surroundings.
Participants will take part in movement-based sessions rooted in improvisational methods that were developed in collaboration with William Forsythe and colleagues at Ballet Frankfurt. No one is expected to move professionally in any way, instead through observation and practical exercises it is an opportunity to see how posture, gesture, and subtle shifts in body language shape the emotional and visual impact of a photograph.
Particular attention will be given to observing behavior, facial expression, gesture, and physical presence. By becoming more aware of their own movement patterns and physical habits, participants can sharpen their ability to observe others, recognize meaningful moments, and create more compelling photographic images.
Tony Rizzi: Skinny (Douglas Becker, Isabel Gerber, Rafaële Giovanola, Wendy Beckwith, Irene Klein), Wiliam Forsythe / Amanda Miller / Ballett Frankfurt, 1986; Tony Rizzi in Jan Fabre’s Stück »Drugs Kept Me Alive«, 2012; Tony Rizzi: Emi and Kazu rehearse “Steptext” – Dancers in Japan, Star Dancers Ballet, 2001, © Tony Rizzi, 2026
Tony Rizzy (*1965 as Anthony James Rizzi in Dedham, Massachusetts) is an Italian-American choreographer, performer and visual artist. After training at the Boston Ballet, he joined William Forsythe's Ballet Frankfurt at the age of 20, beginning a two-decade collaboration that helped shape contemporary dance. Alongside his work with Forsythe, Rizzi collaborated extensively with Belgian artist and theatre director Jan Fabre, performing internationally while developing a multidisciplinary artistic practice that bridges dance, theatre, visual art, film, and performance. Rizzi has been taking photographs since the age of fourteen, already seeing life in pictures. In the early 1990s, he expanded this lifelong practice by developing large-scale collages made from Polaroid photographs. His visual work explores memory, identity and the relationship between image and movement. Since the early 1990s, Rizzi has also created choreographic works for companies throughout Europe and beyond. In 2000, he founded Tony Rizzi & the Bad Habits. Its first production, Snowman Sinking, created with his mother, Verna Rizzi, established him as an original voice in Tanztheater. Through his company, he continues to create performances that combine movement, photography, film, collage, text, humor, and social commentary. International tours have taken him to, among other places, Montreal, Vienna, Tokyo, New York, and Oslo. Since the late 1980s, Rizzi has been working as a photographic artist. His works have been exhibited at, among others, the Frankfurter Kunstverein, Frankfurt Opera, Mousonturm, Kunstverein Hamburg, Platform Sarai in Frankfurt am Main, MUMOK in Vienna, and the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo, and are held in collections internationally.
Sign up now for the workshop with Tony Rizzi:
Please note that for this event the access is limited and a previous registration is necessary.
After the submission of your data we will send you a confirmation by e-mail. This e-mail also includes the bank information for the transfer of the workshop fee. Your payment should reach our account fourteen days before the start of the workshop and is necessary for the participation. In the event of your absence without prior notice of at least 14 days we can unfortunately not refund the fee of the workshop.
With your registration you will confirm that you have read and understood the PRIVACY POLICY of Fotografie Forum Frankfurt.
Do not hesitate to contact us by e-mail at anmeldung@fffrankfurt.org or telephone at +49 (0) 69 291726 if you have any questions regarding workshop schedule, registration or payment.
Thank you for your registration. We will contact you shortly.
FOTOGRAFIE FORUM FRANKFURT
The Fotografie Forum Frankfurt (FFF) is one of the leading centres of photography in Europe. As an exhibition space, institution and event forum the FFF deals with all types and aspects of photography. Since its founding in 1984 it has presented more than 300 exhibitions with historic and contemporary artists. Additionally, the programme of the FFF comprises of regular workshops, talks and discussions with internationally renowned photographers, artists and experts.
