Growing up in Berlin, intertwined with cultural patterns from Germany and Mali and shaped by the cultural essence of hip-hop, Raphael Moussa Hillebrand began his artistic journey as a b-boy. The stage became more than just a place of competition for him. As a choreographer, dancer, director, curator, speaker and activist, he uses his experiences to create art that is critical of power. His works deal powerfully with decolonial narratives and invite the audience to reflect on entrenched thought patterns.
From the rap adaptation of Richard Wagner’s Ring in Der Rap des Nibelungen to the creative fusion of hip-hop and folk dance in volXtanz and Ubuntu Connection, a decolonial dance format, his formats not only break artistic boundaries but also cultural barriers. Performances at the Breakin‘ Convention at Sadler’s Wells and tours across the UK as well as performances at prestigious venues testify to his international presence.
As a member of the Battle Squad and Animatronik groups, he is part of the vibrant hip-hop community. He has been cultivating creative connections with dancers worldwide for over 16 years. In June 2014, he was the first urban choreographer to complete his master’s degree in Choreography at the HZT Berlin. This was followed by a tour of his dance theater performance POW_2045 in Central America, supported by the Goethe-Institut and Waltz Binaire.
As the provider of ideas and founding member of the first hip-hop party, Die Urbane, Raphael Moussa Hillebrand is actively committed to decolonization, empowerment and cultural diversity. His performance Auf meinen Schultern premiered at Ballhaus Naunynstraße in 2019, and in 2020 he was the first representative of the urban dance scene to be honored by the German Dance Award for his outstanding artistic development in dance.
In his latest piece 2050 – Unsere Utopien, which premiered at Radialsystem in October 2024, Raphael Moussa Hillebrand negotiates a future in which social and ecological crises have been overcome. Dance, storytelling and spirituality merge into a powerful journey.
