Everything begins in the dark, with the sound of voices, bodies moving and feet pounding the floor. These are the very first stages of a dance which soon emerges into the light, dragging us along in a whirlwind of music, colours and pleasure.

This dance is rooted in Middle Eastern tradition. Badke is actually a distortion of the word Dabke, the name of a folk dance that features especially at weddings and festivals in Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, etc. It is also danced, albeit in a more codified way, by professional groups who have made it known around the world. In 'Badke', the collective aspect of this form of expression is most notably brought to light and mixed with influences from all four corners of the globe. Capoeira, contemporary dance, hip-hop and circus acrobatics are all seamlessly combined into the ensemble.

The show was a long time in the making, part of a collaboration between Les Ballets C de la B, the KVS and the A.M. Qattan Foundation in Ramallah. Since 2006 the three organisations have been working together to train young Palestinian dancers and actors, organise workshops and create productions in the field of performing arts. It was as part of this that the playwright Hildegard De Vuyst and the dancers and choreographers Koen Augustijnen and Rosalba Torres Guerrero created 'In the Park' in 2009, the fruit of a three-week workshop with ten young Palestinians.

This time round, the work was spread out over longer periods, first in Palestine and then in Brussels, with a final series of rehearsals and creative work in Zurich. This long-term work allowed the ten performers to deliver a compact, coherent show, overflowing with energy yet full of little unique touches.

The principal strength of 'Badke' clearly hinges on its huge group movements – full of life, joy and spirit. In the theatre hall, the irresistible music of Naser Al-Faris, made into a loop by Sam Serruys, causes spectators to swoon. Feet pound the floor of the bleachers and many audience members would  happily join the nine performers in their pandemonium.

But beyond this galvanising collective effect, 'Badke' is scattered with more intimate sequences, in solos, duets and trios. Our eyes are constantly drawn from one side of the stage to the other in an attempt to follow everything. We are surprised by unexpected moments of tenderness and pleasure, but also pain, confrontation and loneliness. 

Source: mad.lesoir.be, Jean-Marie Wynants

Born in Mechelen (Belgium) in 1967, Koen Augustijnen has been working closely with les ballets C de la B since 1991, initially as a dancer in performances staged by Alain Platel, Hans Van den Broeck and Francisco Camacho, and since 1997, he has become one of the dance company’s house choreographers.

To "Crush Time" (1997), his first self-choreographed production, was followed by "Plage Tattoo" (1999) co-directed together with three musicians from Zita Swoon and with Tamayo Okano. His third major production came in "Ernesto" (2000),a dance solo and docudrama, co-directed with his brother Sven Augustijnen, which in turn was followed by "Just another landscape for some jukebox money" (2002). "Bâche" (2004) brought him an international breakthrough, followed by "Import/Export" (2006) and "Ashes" (2009).

He studied history at the Ghent University (1986-1988) and enrolled for theatre workshops at the Antwerp Conservatory (1989) as well as workshops hosted by Jan Decorte in Brussels (1990). In addition, he attended dance workshops by Wim Vandekeybus, Caro Lambert, Min Tanaka, Laurie Booth, Suzanne Linke, Francisco Camacho, Christine Quoiraud, Frank van de Ven and David Zambrano (1990-1999) amongst others. His principal training and work experience, however, has been firmly rooted in his staging of performances as a member of les ballets C de la B. Apart from les ballets C de la B he sometimes works as a choreographer, joining forces with dEUS or working with Ivo Van Hove (Toneelgroep Amsterdam), Arne Sierens (compagnie Cecilia) and Stalker Theatre Company to name but a few. In 2009 he also made a mass choreography for the video clip Dance for the climate from Nic Balthazar. In 2011, he created in collaboration with TG STAN 

Source : Ballets C de la B website

More information

lesballetscdela.be

Born in 1963, Alost, Belgium

“In late 1994 I did my first work as a dramaturge for Muziek Lod. Lod's 1995 co-production of La Tristeza Complice with Les Ballets C de la B was the start of a long collaboration with the director Alain Platel. I am very proud to have worked on ‘Iets op Bach’, ‘Wolf’, ‘VSPRS, Pitié!’ and ‘Out of Context – for Pina’. As a freelancer, I have also collaborated with other choreographers from the same troupe, such as  Koen Augustijnen (‘To Crush Time’) and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui (‘Rien de Rien’). I have also held workshops (in dramaturgy and dance) in Amsterdam, Lublin and Aarhus; I've given lessons at the Rits, the Brussels school for actors and directors; I've created a publication on the artistic centres of Flanders (‘Alles is Rustig’) in partnership with the Vlaams Theater Instituut; I've left the X-group P.A.R.T.S, and more.

In 2001, my life took another turn: the Koninklijke Vlaamse Schouwburg (or KVS) in Brussels changed direction and I was appointed at dramaturge. This was a considerable challenge to overcome. This theatre, with its tired repertoire, had to be transformed into a lively place for the entire city. A huge amount of commitment was required but I took a great deal of satisfaction from it. As of 2006, the new infrastructure is ready and we can better stimulate our work in the city centre. However, despite by endless commitment to KVS, I'll always be there when Platel calls.

It is also thanks to Platel that I went to Palestine in 2004. Since 2007, I have been in charge of coordinating the long-term project PASS (Performing Arts Summer School) for young Palestinian artists, in collaboration with KVS, Les Ballets C de la B and A.M. Qattan Foundation (Ramallah).”

Les Ballets C de la B 

update: 01/2014

Artistic Direction: Alain Platel

Creation: 1984

Les Ballets C de la B (Belgian Contemporary Ballet), formed by Alain Platel in 1984, is a company now regularly acclaimed in Begium and elsewhere. Over time it has adopted a working-platform structure which brings together several choreographers. Christine De Smedt and Koen Augustijnen figure alongside Alain Platel; Hans Van den Broeck and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui have also taken part. Since its inception, Les Ballets C de la B has been committed to involving talented young artists, active in different disciplines and from varied backgrounds, in the dynamic creative process. The company is currently host to two guest choreographers, Lisi Estaràs and Ted Stoffer. The unique mix of diverse artistic visions, which feed each other, makes it impossible to define the Ballets precisely. Nevertheless, a kind of “house style” is emerging. It is popular, anarchic, eclectic and engaged, under the motto “This dance is part of the world and the world belongs to everyone.”  

Source: Les ballets C de la B 's website

More information : lesballetscdela.be