Wim Vandekeybus
Wim Vandekeybus (1963) is a choreographer, dancer, filmmaker and photographer. He founded his dance company Ultima Vez in the mid-eighties. He made a remarkable artistic debut with his first performance What the body does not remember (1987). The performance won a Bessie, an award granted for groundbreaking work. His second performance Les porteuses de mauvaises nouvelles (1989) was also honoured with this award. In his unique style, Vandekeybus has created milestones in the development of modern dance with his performances over the last few decades, at home and abroad.
Vandekeybus has created a language of movement wherein he juxtaposes intuition, impulse and instinct with energy, risk and danger, which exemplifies a dramatic Weltanschauung, full of dynamics and conflict, through the medium of dance. A central focus in his work is the irreconcilable conflict between body and mind, feeling and intellect, man and woman, nature and culture, man and animal, group and individual, illusion and reality. Vandekeybus’ work is characterised by almost obsessive reiterations of one single concern: how man responds to extreme situations. In this context, he attaches special importance to what he refers to as ‘the moment of catastrophe’ - which ironically does not preclude his inclusion of humour, playfulness and even a certain jocular lightheartedness in his work.
Vandekeybus’s performances take the form of associative montages with a penchant for crisscrossing borderlines between disciplines that at the same time lose nothing of their strongrooted autonomy in the process. His dance is rendered in a powerfully theatrical manner. (Live) music and video/film are not only integral to his mode of theatrical expression, but more often than not, are actually the prime movers underlying the performances. Vandekeybus has in the past collaborated with musicians such as Thierry De Mey, Peter Vermeersch, David Byrne, David Eugene Edwards, Arno, Charo Calvo, Mauro, Marc Ribot and Trixie Whitley. The choreographer has also created short films for use in various performances - some of which may be regarded as standalone works in their own right, such as Blush (2004) and Monkey Sandwich (2013). Vandekeybus also made Galloping Mind (2015), his very first feature film.
In the performances of his early period, text and story were totally subordinate to the bodies and their impulsive movements, scattered throughout the narrative as fragmentary material. In the course of the years, Vandekeybus developed a stronger narrative style that presents coherent fables with a broader scope, often revolving around community, individuals and conflict. His performances represent a transition from tensions between bodies at a purely physical level, to more complex tensions as between groups, and as between groups and individuals. He represented existing tragedies by Jan Decorte and Euripides, and also collaborated with contemporary authors such as Bart Meuleman, Peter Verhelst and Pieter de Buysser. His recent work such as Mockumentary of a Contemporary Saviour and TrapTown, reveal his overarching disquiet about the current political state of global affairs.
Each of Vandekeybus’s performances are markers in his quest for new forms: “That is why I sometimes make an extreme musical performance (nieuwZwart) and then base a project on the experiences of one person (Monkey Sandwich) and then find a theme in classical mythology (Oedipus/Bêt noir or Die Bakchen) or make an analytical piece in which theatricality plays an important role (Talk to the demon).” However, in essence, his performances are and remain rooted the vital energy of the body itself. This is a realm in which Vandekeybus has been able to create a rich and diverse oeuvre that is acclaimed not only at home, but internationally as well.
![](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/w2.jpg)
Work
![© Filip Van Roe](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/2324PUU-vandekeybus-affiche1cFilipVanRoe-OBV.jpg)
Puur (revival)
![Infamous Offspring (c) film still by Wim Vandekeybus, Fernando Vandekeybus, Dries Vanderaerden](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/InfamousOffspring-film_still_6.png)
Infamous Offspring
![© Danny Willems](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/Bitmap1.jpg)
Hands do not touch your precious Me
Upcoming
![© Pieter-Jan De Pue](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/Promobeeld-VOID.jpg)
VOID
Archive
![© Karolina Miernik](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/Scattered-Memories-c-Karolina-Miernik.jpg)
Scattered Memories
![© Danny Willems](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/Bachaii_0.jpg)
Die Bakchen - lasst uns tanzen
![© Danny Willems](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/UV_GFOY©DannyWillems_8D21463.jpg)
Go Figure Out Yourself
![© Danny Willems](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/UV_TrapTownC2A9DannyWillems-DWPR5736.jpg)
TrapTown
![Mockumentaryofa Contemporary Saviour C2 A9 Danny Willems 6245](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/MockumentaryofaContemporarySaviourC2A9DannyWillems_6245.jpg)
Mockumentary of a Contemporary Saviour
![© Danny Willems](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/UV_SpeakLow04C2A9DannyWillems15DW624520copy.jpg)
Speak low if you speak love ...
![© Danny Willems](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/Talk20to20the20DemonC2A9DannyWillems-3625.jpg)
Talk to the Demon
![© Danny Willems](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/FearNotC2A9DannyWillemsC2A92013-6682.jpg)
FEAR NOT
![© Danny Willems](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/Spiritual20Unity_Danny20Willems20copy.jpg)
Spiritual Unity
![© Danny Willems](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/BootyLooting-DannyWillems_0737.jpg)
booty Looting
![© Koen Broos](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/IT203.020photo320by20Koen20Broos.jpg)
IT 3.0
![© Danny Willems](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/Oedipus-C2AEdanny_willems-7856.jpg)
Oedipus / bêt noir
![© Pieter-Jan De Pue](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/Radical-Wrong_photo-Pieter-Jan-De-Pue_7.jpg)
Radical Wrong
![© Pieter-Jan De Pue](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/Monkey_Sandwich_Pieter-Jan_De_Pue-01.jpg)
Monkey Sandwich (the film)
![© Danny Willems](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/MonkeyS_0794-EFBFBDDanny20Willems.jpg)
Monkey Sandwich
![© Mats Bäcker](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/Black-Biist-©Mats-Bäcker-1.jpg)
Black Biist
![© Wim Vandekeybus](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/ACHTERTOOGLID_Wim20Vandekeybus.jpg)
Achtertooglid
![© Danny Willems](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/Nieuw_ZwartC2A9DannyWillems-6905.jpg)
nieuwZwart
![© Marta Lamovsek](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/Whats-the-prediction-Vienna_-Photo-Marta-Lamovsek.jpg)
What's the prediction?!
![© Pieter Jan De Pue](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/MENSKE_98_Pieter-Jan20De20Pue.jpg)
Menske
![© Phile Deprez](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/Nachtschade127_photo-Phile-Deprez.jpg)
Nightshade
![© Fernando Marcos](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/QUIEBRO_72_Fernando20Marcos.jpg)
Quiebro
![© Jean Pierre Stoop](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/Bàt-Noir-133-photo-Jean-Pierre-Stoop.jpg)
Bêt noir
![© Jean Pierre Stoop](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/Spiegel_photo3_Jean-Pierre20Stoop.jpg)
Spiegel
![Puur](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/Puur203120Wim20Vandekeybus20-20Ultima20Vez2028c2920Wim20Vandekeybus.jpg)
Puur
![Here After (c) Jean-Pierre Stoop](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/Here-After_Wim-Vandekeybus_-photo-Jean-Pierre-Stoop.jpg)
Here After
![© Liesbet Peremans](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/Rent20a20kid2C20no20bullshit2120402028photo20Liesbet20Peremans29.jpg)
Rent a Kid, no Bullshit!
![Blush film still](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/Blush-film-1.jpg)
Blush (the film)
Sonic Boom
![© Jean Pierre Stoop](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/it-1-Photo-Jean-Pierre-Stoop.jpg)
IT
![© Hans Roels](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/Blush20C72028photo20Hans20Roels29.jpg)
Blush
Inasmuch as Life is borrowed...
![© Bruno Vandermeulen](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/7_Silver2_photo-Bruno-Vandermeulen.jpg)
Silver
![© Reinhilde Terryn](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/Inasmuch...-photo-Reinhilde-Terryn.jpg)
Inasmuch...
![© Jean-Pierre Stoop](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/Film_Last-Words_InSpite_Jean-Pierre-Stoop.jpg)
The Last Words
![© Wim Vandekeybus](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/in-spite-3-photo-Wim-Vandekeybus.jpg)
In Spite of Wishing and Wanting (film)
![© Bruno Vandermeulen](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/In20Spite2052028Photo20Bruno20Vandermeulen29_0.jpg)
In Spite of Wishing and Wanting
![© Bruno Vandermeulen](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/The-day-of-heaven-and-hell_photo-Bruno-Vandermeulen3.jpg)
The Day of Heaven and Hell
Body, body on the wall...
![© Bruno Vandermeulen](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/7_Secret_Photo20Bruno20Vandermeulen-Wim20Vandekeybus.jpg)
7 for a Secret never to be told
![© Bruno Vandermeulen](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/Bereft20of20a20Blissful20Union_photo20Bruno20Vandermeulen.jpg)
Bereft of a Blissful Union
![© Octavio Iturbe](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/Bereft-1-photo-Octavio-Iturbe.jpg)
Bereft of a Blissful Union
Dust
![© Wim Vandekeybus](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/Alle20Grossen_photo20Wim20Vandekeybus3.jpg)
Alle Grössen decken sich zu
![© Bruno Vandermeulen](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/Mountains20made20of20Barking_Bruno20Vandermeulen.jpg)
Mountains Made of Barking
![© Wim Vandekeybus](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/Mountains-1-filmstill-Wim-Vandekeybus.jpg)
Mountains Made of Barking
![© Danny Willems](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/UltimaVez_archives_Her20Body_Photo20by20Wim20Vandekeybus12.jpg)
Her Body Doesn't Fit Her Soul
Elba and Federico
![© Wim Vandekeybus](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/LaMentira_WimVDK1.jpg)
La Mentira
![© Ultima Vez](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/Immer-1-crop.jpg)
Immer das Selbe gelogen
![© Octavio Iturbe](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/The20Weight20of20a20Hand_photo20Octavio20Iturbe.jpg)
The Weight of a Hand
Roseland
![© Octavio Iturbe](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/porteuses_Octavio20Iturbe.jpg)
Les porteuses de mauvaises nouvelles
![© Octavio Iturbe](/uploads/images/_1200xAUTO_fit_center-center_90_none/What-the-Body-Does-Not-Remember_Phot-by-Octavio-Iturbe_3.gif)