Jan Martens is back on Dansens Hus' main stage with a work for 17 dancers aged 16-69.
Tickets1 Feb
19:00
2 Feb
19:00
This work has been replaced by another by and with Jan Martens. Same date and time, Read more
A 16-year-old, a 69-year-old, and a variety of bodies and dance experience in between. In total, the Any attempt will end in crushed bodies and shattered bones 17 dancers from different generations, different dance techniques and backgrounds, all searching for their unique expression. How do you give space to the other dancers in the performance while searching for your own unique place and voice on stage?
At a time when polarisation is creeping out of all the nooks and crannies of society, the group is trying to see each other for real, beyond stereotypes and social dogma. To be themselves, in a group. Without stealing their fellow dancers' spotlight and with a desire to be their best selves. Can these two be reconciled? Yes, says Jan Martens. By giving each other the necessary space. By embracing differences and by using the stage space and the performance as an ideological guinea pig. A show of the power of not adapting to what others think and do.
The experiment is supported by a musical soundtrack of protest songs from different eras - from Henryk Górecki via Max Roach & Abbey Lincoln to Kae Tempest.
Belgian Jan Martens has previously made two guest appearances on Dansens Hus' main stage. In 2017 with the intimate Sweat baby sweat and in 2018 with the acclaimed The dog days are over.
Jan Martens
Jan Martens (°1984, Belgium) Choreographer and dancer Jan Martens has worked as a dancer in several Belgian companies, including United-C and Ann Van den Broek. He graduated from the Artesis Conservatory for Dance in Antwerp in 2006. Since 2009, he is also active as a choreographer with several international successes behind him, most recently THE DOG DAYS ARE OVER and SWEAT BABY SWEAT. In his work he wants to emphasise the beauty of human imperfection, rather than physical virtuosity.
Since 2017, Mr Martens has been creative associate at deSingel international arts campus (Antwerp, BE), until 2021. He is also the co-founder of the choreographic platform GRIP.
Choreography
Jan Martens
Dancers
Ty Boomershine, Truus Bronkhorst, Jim Buskens, Baptiste Cazaux, Zoë Chungong, Piet Defrancq, Naomi Gibson, Kimmy Ligtvoet, Cherish Menzo, Steven Michel, Gesine Moog, Dan Mussett, Wolf Overmeire, Tim Persent, Courtney May Robertson, Laura Vanborm and Loeka Willems UNDERSTUDIES: Pierre Bastin, Georgia Boddez, Zora Westbroek and Lia Witjes Poole
Artistic assistant
Anne-Lise Brevers
Light design
Jan Fedinger
Lighting design assistant
Vito Walter
Costume design
Cédric Charlier
Costume design assistant
Alexandra Sebbag, Thibault Kuhn
External eye
Marc Vanrunxt, Renée Copraij, Rudi Meulemans, Siska Baeck
text
Extract from SPRING by Ali Smith. Copyright © 2019, Ali Smith, Courtesy of The Wylie Agency (UK)
music
"Concerto for Harpsichord and Strings Op 40" Réf Im: 108884 Music by Henryk Mikolaj Górecki © PWM Editions represented by Alphonse Leduc Editions Musicales ; "People's Faces" written by Kae Tempest and Dan Carey © Published and Administered by Domino Publishing Company Limited (50%) and MANATA LTD Administrated by Warner/Chappell Music Belgium N. V. (50%) ; "Triptych: Prayer/Protest/Peace" written by Maxwell Roach © Published by Milma Publishing Company Administered by Kobalt Music Publishing Limited.V. (50%) ; "Triptych: Prayer/Protest/Peace" written by Maxwell Roach © Published by Milma Publishing Company Administered by Kobalt Music Publishing Limited.Music Publishing Limited.
Technical direction
Michel Spang
Technicians
Valentine Weyn/Bennert Vancottem
Production manager
Sylvie Svanberg
Production assistant
Marie Luyten (internship), Saskia Vervoort
Company management
Klaartje Oerlemans
Management support
Ruud Van Moorleghem, Lotte De Mont
Communication
Sam Loncke
Photo
Phile Deprez
Graphic design
Luis XertuTEASERS
Trailer
Stanislav Dobak, Jan Fedinger
Production
GRIPIN COLLABORATION
Co-production
Dance On Ensemble
International distribution
A Propic / Line Rousseau and Marion GauventCO-PRODUCTION: deSingel international arts campus (Antwerp, BE), Theater Freiburg (DE), Sadler's Wells (London, UK), Julidans (Amsterdam, NL), Festival d'Avignon (FR), Le Gymnase CDCN Roubaix Hauts-de-France (FR), Norrlandsoperan (Umeå, SE), La Bâtie - Festival de Genève & l'ADC - Association pour la Danse Contemporaine Genève (CH), tanzhaus nrw (Düsseldorf, DE), Le Parvis Scène Nationale Tarbes-Pyrénéés (Tarbes, FR), La Danse en grande forme (CNDC - Angers, Malandain Ballet Biarritz, La Manufacture - CDCN Nouvelle-Aquitaine Bordeaux - La Rochelle, CCN de Caen en Normandie, L'échangeur - CDCN Hauts-de-France, CCN de Nantes, CCN d'Orléans, Atelier de Paris / CDCN, Collectif Fair-e / CCN de Rennes et de Bretagne, Le Gymnase | CDCN Roubaix | Hauts-de-France, POLE-SUD CDCN / Strasbourg and La Place de La Danse - CDCN Toulouse Occitanie) and Perpodium WITH THE SUPPORT OF: De Grote Post (Ostend, BE), Charleroi Danse (BE), CCNO - Centre Chorégraphique National d'Orléans icw Théâtre d'Orléans (FR) and December Dance (Concertgebouw and CC Brugge)WITH THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF: the Flemish Government, the city of Antwerp, Tax Shelter of the Belgian Federal Government and Cronos InvestTHANKS TO: Mr. Jean Chabert (STANLEY) Jean Chabert (STANLEY/STELLA)