With the support of the Flemish Government
The working of GRIP in Antwerp is made possible in part by the Open Call for Structural Artistic-Cultural Initiatives of the City of Antwerp.
When?
Encounter and presentation: 20th of September 2025 from 10:00 to 12:30
Exposition « Character »: 20th of September 2025 ongoing between 10:00 and 17:30.
Where?
Centre national de la danse, 40 rue Vaubecour 69002 Lyon.
This is not a pitch.
What is the relevance of dance and performing arts?
Of course, we could give you a beautiful PowerPoint presentation about our upcoming projects (about which we are very excited). But, perhaps, instead we should talk about our times which are out of joint, about the current situation in the world and how that reflects in our sector? And, maybe, we could even ask the big question: What is the relevance of dance and the performing arts today? We wonder: Can we still carry on with business as usual or do we need some radical changes? We would like to exchange thoughts, experiences, and reflections with artists, producers, programmers, technicians, and art workers.
During the second part of this morning one of our choreographers, Femke Gyselinck, will present Character, a danced alphabet in book form. Femke made this artist book in collaboration with graphic designer Joris Krits and photographer Robbrecht Desmet. She will talk about the project in dialogue with the team of the Biennale de la danse. A small expo based on the book with a reference library, in a scenography by Asli Çiçek, can be seen during the festival. ‘Character’ is an example of how the research material and archive of a choreographer can be shown within another medium.
GRIP is a dance organization with shared artistic leadership. Choreographers Femke Gyselinck, Jan Martens, Cherish Menzo, and Steven Michel act together as artistic directors. Alongside artistic coordinator Rudi Meulemans and company manager Klaartje Oerlemans they lead GRIP. GRIP is represented world-wide by Line Rousseau and Marion Gauvent from A Propic, Creative Agency for the Performing and Visual Arts. All of them will take part in this encounter. Together we invited Renée Copraij to join us and engage in the dialogue with the audience.Renée is a performer, dramaturg, and the artistic director of dansco, based in Amsterdam. She is a longtime collaborator of GRIP and worked as dramaturg for Jan Martens’ THE DOG DAYS ARE OVER (2014), recreated with a new cast ten years later and premiering at the Biennale from September 17 to 19.
This presentation is supported by the Flemish Government.
© Laetitia Bica
The International Dance Concours is organising a workshop by Femke Gyselinck at Concertgebouw Brugge on Sunday morning, the 1st of March, for dancers participating in the competition.
read more
From October 19 to 23, Steven Michel and Cherish Menzo are teaching a masterclass to the bachelor dance students at Uniarts Helsinki's Theatre Academy in Finland.
read more
Soup Talks are an invitation to come together and discuss. On Nov 11th, the festival invites the audience for a bowl of soup and to engage in informal discussions with Cherish Menzo presenting 'FRANK' in this year’s festival.
read more
On July 9, following the performance, there will be a discussion with Cherish Menzo, Malick Cissé, Mulunesh & Omagbitse Omagbemi, moderated by Fransien van der Putt in the Speakeasy.
read more