Musical Journey & Mentorship

My musical journey is shaped by both formal training and transformative mentorship. I trained at the Berlin Handpan Akademie and the “Groove” Institute for Tempo and Percussion in Masyaf, Syria. Later on, I was fortunate to be guided by mentors including Sasha Waltz, Grandmaster Shi Yan Lin, and Master Mohammad Reza Mortazavi, shaping my distinctive approach to rhythm, performance, Body Movement, and musical storytelling.

I have been connected to rhythm since childhood, rarely seen without a small drum in my hands. As a teenager, I performed across Syria with a traditional dance group, developing a deep understanding of movement, timing, and collective musical energy.

Today, I perform both as a solo artist and with ensembles such as the Resident Music Collective at the Humboldt Forum, Pulsar Collective, and the Dabke Community Dance and Kinder- und Jugendtanzcompany by Sasha Waltz & Guests. I have collaborated with artists including Ziad Rahbani, Joel Holmes, Zhynea Topov, Clemens Rynkowski, Caner Taker, Studio Labour, and Ralf Schmerberg, among others.

I have toured and performed across Germany, the UK, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Poland, and Slovakia, bringing immersive musical experiences to diverse audiences.

Handpan & Live Percussion Berlin

I perform handpan at concerts, galleries, museums, and festivals in Berlin, and provide live percussion for cultural events, workshops, and ceremonies. Through my work in Middle Eastern percussion in Berlin, I bridge tradition and innovation, creating immersive musical experiences that resonate across audiences and communities.

I regularly share my performances through public events, workshops, and concerts. You are welcome to join my newsletter to see upcoming handpan performances in Berlin and live percussion Berlin events.

Workshops – Ali Hasan Percussion Workshop: Urban Rhythms Berlin

Join my Ali Hasan percussion workshop – Urban Rhythms workshop in Berlin, where I explore traditional beats in contemporary contexts. Participants experience:

• Middle Eastern percussion Berlin techniques

• Handpan  performances  methods

• Contemporary Electronic Music.

• Fusion of rhythm, movement, and mindful awareness

Check the workshops calendar to see upcoming sessions and register for my newsletter to receive events across Berlin and Europe.

Media & Press

My work has been featured in international media, including:
ZDF, Arte, Deutschlandfunk Kultur, Al Jazeera English, العربي الجديد, رصيف 22, أمل برلين, RSI Switzerland,TV4 Sweden, The Syrian Observer, The Standard Hong Kong, The Dailymail UK, and The Washington Times.

Awards, Funding & Recognition

Between 2017 and 2024, I co-founded Baynatna, a Berlin-based cultural space and public library that received recognition for its social and artistic impact, including:

• 2nd Place, Polis Award Campus (2018)

• The Power of the Arts Award – Transforming Society (2020)

• Aktiv für Demokratie und Toleranz Award (2020)

During this period, I also founded We Belong to Music, which organized and hosted dozens of interdisciplinary art events in Berlin.

In 2018–2019, I received a scholarship from Sasha Waltz & Guests through the Weltoffenes Berlin – Artist at Risk program, in collaboration with Allianz Kulturstiftung and the Berlin Senate Department for Culture.

In 2021, I served as a jury member for the Artist-in-Residence Program at Academy in Exile, supporting artists working in contexts of displacement and social change.
That same year, I received funding from Durchstarten – Stiftung für Kulturelle Weiterbildung und Kulturberatung for my artistic project Dreams of Belonging.

In 2022, I conducted movement and dance research with HAU – Hebbel am Ufer Theater, titled Polyrythmic Existence, as part of #TakeHeart, supported by the Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien through the Bundesweite Artist Labs initiative.

In December 2023, I was selected to perform in the Global Encounters Festival – International Performing Arts Showcase Final in London at Kensington Town Hall, marking my first solo concert on an international curated stage in the United Kingdom.

In the winter semester 2024/25, I was invited to teach my course “Urban Rhythms: From Traditional Beats to City Streets” at the Berlin University of the Arts (UdK).

Wellness Background

Beyond music, I am a dedicated athlete, training in Kung Fu at the Shaolin School since 2021, as well as Tai Chi and Qi Gong, earning awards such as:

• Dragon Cup 2025 – 3rd Place (Hand Forms)

• Xin Nian Cup 2025 – 3rd Place (Hand Forms)

• Dragon Cup 2024 – 2nd Place (Hand Forms)

• Xin Nian Cup 2024 – 1st Place (Hand Forms)

• Xin Nian Cup 2023 – 2nd Place (Hand Forms)

• Shaolin Kultur Meeting 2022 – 1st Place (Hand Forms)

I continue my healthcare studies, currently enrolled in the Manual Therapy in Osteopathy (MTO) program at Top Physio, Berlin, after receiving physiotherapy recognition from the Akademie der Gesundheit, Berlin. I have also completed international online courses in integrative health and wellness, including:

• Mindfulness in Integrative Healthcare – University of Minnesota (Online)

• Healing with the Arts – University of Florida (Online)

• Music for Wellness – Berklee College of Music (Online)

• Intro to Personal Training – American Council on Exercise (Online)

Through this work, I aim to bridge movement, rhythm, and mindful awareness, connecting the healing intelligence of the body with the expressive depth of music and culture.

   TO PROMOTE PEACE!  

Thank you for being here, 

With warm regards,
Ali Hasan.