Verena Brakonier comes from a working-class background and has been working as a freelance dancer and choreographer since 2008. She studied dance at the Folkwang University of the Arts and has performed with artists such as Lois Bartel, Josephine Findeisen, Trajal Harrell, Antje Pfundtner, and the Schwabinggrad Ballett. Her work has been featured at festivals including Tanz im August, Ruhrtriennale and ImPulsTanz.

Since 2019, she has been researching classism – the discrimination based on class background and social status. In 2021, she co-created the short film ›HÄNDE‹ with Greta Granderath and Jivan Frenster, which was screened at venues such as the Berlinische Galerie. Her dance piece ›AUTO-FIKTION: DER STRUGGLE SO REAL‹ is a site-specific performance set in an auto repair shop and has successfully toured Germany since its premiere in 2021.

In addition to performing, she leads workshops and regularly participates in panel discussions on her anti-classist work. She is also involved in organizing the Probebühne at Gängeviertel e. V. in Hamburg alongside other local artists.