Carmen Lafran is an Italian, Berlin-based interdisciplinary performance and movement artist, as well as a lecturer, holding a MA in Philosophy. With a deeply reflective and multifaceted approach, Lafran’s work transcends the boundaries of dance theatre, butoh dance, performance art, and philosophy.

Their practice investigates the intersection of body, identity, and socio-political narratives, focusing on the body as a contested terrain where power dynamics are negotiated, resisted, and embodied. Lafran’s artistic vision involves the development of a distinct body language that fuses the raw, expressive language of butoh dance with elements of physical theatre, La Commedia dell'arte and elements of ritual. This exploration goes beyond technique to integrate performance art with live interaction, offering a space where audience engagement is not merely through spectacle, but through a shared, perceptive understanding of presence and relational exchange.

Drawing from both visionary and critical perspectives, Lafran uses their performances to interrogate and challenge the socio-political realities of our time. Their interpretation of butoh is not just a medium but an ongoing philosophical research—one that embraces the inherent contradictions within each movement. In their dance, each step is a "miss-step," a gesture toward its opposite, in constant flux, embodying otherness and transformation.

In addition to their solo performances, Lafran collaborates extensively with artists across disciplines, contributing to a diverse range of platforms—from theater stages and galleries to the dynamic underground art scene. Their solo performances have been featured at notable events such as Berlin Art Week (Germany), Paradoxal Festival (France), Venice International Performance Art Week (Italy), Project ID (The Netherlands), Istanbul Performance Art (Turkey), and Carbon Residency (Ucraine). They have also been part of significant group works, including Nachspiel (VOICES Festival 2024, Berlin), RopeBerry (ongoing project since 2022 performed in several chapters at Mahalla, Berlin), Like a Virgin (Societaetstheater Dresden), To Canvass for Utopia (Acud Berlin), and Off Time Values (Db Studio Berlin), among others.

Alongside their artistic practice, Lafran is a passionate educator, currently lecturing on Performativity for MA Photography students at the University of Europe for Applied Sciences in Berlin. Their academic work blends performance studies and philosophy of photography, inviting students to engage with the layered dimensions of visual and performative arts and encouraging them to critically reflect on the intersections of aesthetics, body, and society.

Through their art and teaching, Lafran continues to expand the boundaries of performance, creating spaces for dialogue and transformation that challenge both audiences and students alike. Lafran's artistic research is deeply aligned with their previous academic work in philosophy. Since completing their MA, they have published scholarly articles on the philosophical understanding of the body and contributed to ongoing discourse on the intersections of the body in performative practice.