The Balancing Act

Makers	WArd/waRD
Duration	60 min
Program lines	Roots & IdentityMakers reveal how they deal with questions of origin, identity, colonialism, gender and historical events. Experimental AdventuresYou know you are witnessing something new, but what is it? For everyone who likes unexpected surprises.

Balance is finding peace in a balanced center

After dark themes and extremely exuberant emotions in Joy Enjoy Joy, Ann Van den Broek goes in search of balance with the performance The Balancing Act. Balance in body, in mind, in our daily lives and in her choreographic work.

In an oeuvre full of extremes, in which the Flemish choreographer repeatedly highlights deep emotions and heavy themes that are close to her, it is now time to find peace in a balanced center. This search translates into a balanced performance. It undulates in fluid movements into an almost meditative trans. At the same time, balance is something you never seem to be able to quite capture. Sometimes it is narrowly avoiding falling, catching yourself and carrying on again. Balance is so precarious that it seems elusive.

In The Balancing Act, Ann Van den Broek experiments with live video images and sound and light effects. Roles between dancer and musician blur and mix, as we often see in her work. With music pedals, the performers manipulate sound, light and image. Looking for the right volume, the right sharpness or a beautiful light in which life can be enjoyed. This creates a lively, installation-like setting along the boundaries of dance and performance.

Concept & choreography	Ann Van den Broek
Performers	Louis Combeaud, Nik Rajšek, Jean-Gabriel Maury, Marion Bosetti, Carla Guerra, Kamil Pilarski, Isaiah Selleslaghs, Anthony van Gog
Intern	Julia van Rooijen
Music	Nicolas Rombouts
Text	Ann Van den Boek, Gregory Frateur
Video and lightdesign	Bernie van Velzen
Concept Scenographer	Ann Van den Broek
Implementation scenography	Jesse Sep van Aalderen, Bernie van Velzen, Dario Giustarini
Styling costumes	Ann Van den Broek i.s.m. Marielle Vos
Photos	Rio Staelens, David Gallard
International bookings	A propic I Line Rousseau & Marion Gauvent
Dutch Agency	Bureau Berbee & Jansen
The Balancing Act by WArd/waRD is produced in partnership with	Theater Rotterdam (NL) and Le Lieu Unique in Nantes (FR) and is financially supported by Fonds Podiumkunsten (NL) and Gemeente Rotterdam (NL).