fABULEUS/Reut Shemesh - ULTRA

In the organizer's words:

In this dance production, ten young people give free rein to their energy: explosive and vulnerable, on the fine line between play and rebellion. ULTRA poses questions about the role of "typically masculine" behavior in our changing times. Above all, however, the play is a portrait of a group of young people in a world full of contradictory expectations and pigeonholes.

For this work together with fABULEUS, choreographer Reut Shemesh was inspired by an encounter with German 'Ultra' soccer fans. The performance shows young people between the ages of 15 and 21 performing a ritual that combines joy and aggression and reveals the vulnerability behind their loud expressions. ULTRA is a tender to tough examination of masculinity and addresses the challenges and opportunities for young people growing up in a world of changing norms.

The artistic collaboration between young talents and established artists is at the heart of fABULEUS ' work. Sometimes young people are on stage, sometimes (prospective) professionals. fABULEUSoffers them the necessary framework to develop their qualities as actors or dancers and is also an international role model in this respect. The Cologne-based choreographer Reut She mesh has made a name for herself in the contemporary German dance scene and was Artist in Residence at K3 / Hamburg and at tanzhaus nrw Düsseldorf, where fABULEUSis a regular guest. Reut Shemesh brings together two fascinations: on the one hand, an interest in strength and group dynamics, and on the other, personal questions that she asks herself as a mother in relation to so-called masculinity.

"The eternal dichotomy of the modern man is captured in this important image. Internally, everyone is divided, but that's exactly what connects us 'ULTRA' hard."- Jasmien van de Beek, VETO Magazine

Concept & choreography Reut Shemesh

Creation & Performance Andreas Crommelinck, Jinte De Greef, Luna Fall, Emma Ghijs, Kyano Holbrechts, Karsten Janssens, Glory Ofori-Asamoah, Mathis Schellekens, Ridder Seghers, Fien Simons

Choreographic assistant Katja Pire

Dramaturgy Daniel Rademacher

Stage, video and lighting design Ronni Shendar

Music Simon Bauer

Costumes Joëlle Meerbergen

Assistantcostume design Femke Vanweddingen

A co-creationbyfABULEUSand the Reut Shemesh Company.

Co-produced by tanzhaus nrw, supported by Bündnis internationaler Produktionshäuser e.V., Perpodium and STUK.

Also supported by the City of Leuven, the Flemish Government, the Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia as part of the Spitzenförderung Tanz and the Kunststiftung NRW.

Supported by the Tax Shelter of the Belgian government.

Price information:

from €7.00