Raves are nothing new - people have always danced intensively together. In While we are here, Lisa Vereertbrugghen explores that timeless desire to collectively dance hard. She invited Claire Godsmark, Dolores Hulan, Eimi Leggett and Castélie Yalombo Lilonge to join her in focusing on the parallel practice of hardcore rave and folk dance. Without nostalgia or a predefined vision of the future, together they bring a hybrid techno-folk, that disrupts control and celebrates collective physicality.
“Go and see it for yourself because Vereertbrugghen looks beyond the fetish of 160 beats per minute to what underlies this subculture.” - Charlotte De Somviele in De Standaard, 7 November 2023
“The enchantment takes place at the edges of the visible, in the exchange of glances between the dancers and with the audience.” - Roberta Ferraresi in Doppiozero, 22 July 2024
“While We Are Here is an ode to ‘being here’ and how celebrating ‘being here’ is of all times.” - Nicky Aerts in Pompidou, 05 December 2023
concept and choreography Lisa Vereertbrugghen performance and co-creation Claire Godsmark, Dolores Hulan/Taka Shamoto, Eimi Leggett, Castélie Yalombo Lilonge and Lisa Vereertbrugghen dramaturgy Simon Baetens and Sophie Guisset artistic advice Madison Bycroft sound Michael Langeder lighting Vera Martins costumes Cee Fülleman singing Lisa Vereertbrugghen and Michaela Riener folk expert Aurélie Giet production CAMPO technical aspects Babette Poncelet and Korneel Coessens coproduction Concertgebouw, KAAP, Kunstenwerkplaats KWP, STUK Arts Centre, ICI — CCN Montpellier, Kunstencentrum BUDA, BIT teatergarasjen (Mons/Bergen) and Perpodium with the support of the Belgian Federal Government Tax Shelter via uFund, the Flemish Government and Flemish Community Commission
