Aquabella Workshop

"World Music - singing without boundaries" with Aquabella from Germany

Seminar "World Music - singing without boundaries" with Bettina Stäbert and Nadja Dehn

In the workshop, the singers convey their knowledge of voice, language, stage presence and harmonic sound in an impressively simple way. With precise attention to a great sonic result and humour they encourage the boldness of every singer to explore his and her limits. It's about how to use your voice and body on stage. Odd rhythms are experienced through body-percussion and are suddenly easier than you thought. Rhythm modules help to create your own body percussion pattern for choir or school class. The participants further learn about different vocal techniques, such as the typical sound of Bulgarian female choirs, the click sounds of the Xosa or yodeling, which is not only found in Europe. All participants of the workshop will receive a 50% discount to the evening concert when they purchase a ticket to that event (code will be emailed on purchase of workshop ticket)

Focus of the workshop:
The study of simple international songs

Vocal techniques such as open throat technique (Bulgarian women's choirs); Shouting (African song); yodelling, clicking sounds of the Xosa, but also lyrical singing

Stage presence and body language

Rhythm and body percussion

During the workshop, we acquire several songs with the group from the rich repertoire of Aquabella. All songs are mostly taught without music sheets. After completion of the workshop, all participants will have the opportunity to purchase the developed material including various exercises in the form of a workshop booklet.

The lecturers Bettina Stäbert is an actress and a certified rhythm educator. She teaches at the Academy of Music in Berlin and is a known course instructor throughout Europe. Her focus is on the content and realization of a song, in order to get the most personal singing expression. Unique rhythmical experiences are created by the use of body percussion and lead to a deeper understanding of unusual rhythms. Songs are taught by call and response without using sheet music to involve the phrasing of a melody in the learning process.

Nadja Dehn studied Jazz singing and specializes in the physiological aspects of different sounds of the voice. She is an Estill voice cmtc and teaches at the University of Berlin (UdK). She believes that any sound can be taught, from a lyrical to a shouting or a twangy sound. Her profound knowledge of the production of voice lets her teach these sounds safely without harming the true vocal folds.


Intercultural education is our great passion. It's more than an approach, it's an attitude in and to our heterogeneous, multi-ethnic and multicultural society. Aquabella interacts with artists from around the world. They collect impressions, personal stories and traditional songs of native speakers to bring them to life on a big stage.

Aquabella A Capella Concert
While Aquabella are in Ōtautahi Christchurch they are performing a concert in the Great Hall. Find out more and book tickets https://www.artscentre.org.nz/whats-on/aquabella-a-capella/