Sounds

Music is part of human life. And SOUNDS is a physical ode to the power of music, where dance, sound, and energy merge into one. Choreographer Donna Chittick blends Caribbean and African influences with hip-hop, then takes us with her on a journey back to her roots in St. Maarten. Four dancers and a vocalist bring to life rhythms and movements deeply rooted in identity, memory, and community.  

Soca—the high-energy, pulsing music of the Caribbean—and konpa—a danceable Haitian style with fluid rhythms and melodies—form the musical backbone, together with African sounds. These vibrations don’t just reach your ears, they can be felt, seen, and touched through vibrating belts and rhythmic light. This makes the performance accessible to people with a hearing impairment as well. 

SOUNDS celebrates Afro-Caribbean heritage and echoes the strength of generations before, during, and after the Transatlantic slavery era, with music as a universal language. Get swept away. Feel the beats. 

BackBone is a hip-hop dance company creating work that is sharp, urgent, and rooted in hip-hop values: intensity, authenticity in performance, grounded choreography, and bold storytelling. Their productions are raw and profound, designed to spark the audience’s curiosity and challenge them to reflect on their role in society. 

BackBone was founded in 2012 by Alida Dors. After Alida moved to Theater Rotterdam, Donna Chittick stepped in as artistic director at the end of 2022.