FULL - Ultima Vez Movement Language & Creation Workshop with Thi Mai Nguyen & Helder Seabra

This workshop is full, stay tuned for our next one in September!

This intensive workshop delves into the physical and theatrical language of Ultima Vez, pushing the boundaries of performance beyond technique into raw expression and creative agency. Led by experienced Ultima Vez collaborators Thi Mai Nguyen & Helder Seabra, you will be challenged to not only execute movement but to embody it fully - bringing your energy, presence, and individuality into the creative process.

Each day begins with a full-body warm-up, refining dynamic movement qualities and sharpening your connection to space and those around you. Throughout the workshop, we will explore three essential challenges:

- How to manage and distribute energy within technically demanding sequences.

- When to hold back or release, switching between movement qualities with precision.

- How to be fully engaged in action, rather than merely reproducing form.

To deepen this exploration, we will integrate Sanford Meisner’s repetition exercise, refining your ability to remain present and responsive in movement.

In the afternoons, we shift focus to Ultima Vez’s movement vocabulary, deconstructing and reinterpreting its distinct physicality. You will not only learn choreographic material but will be invited to translate it into your own body and voice, engaging in the creation process as an active contributor rather than a passive performer.

Throughout the week, Wim Vandekeybus, artistic leader of Ultima Vez, will also be present at certain moments to work with the participants, offering his insights and guidance in the creative process.

At Ultima Vez, the artist’s presence shapes the work. It is about how much you choose to give - how fully you exist in each moment, in each movement. This workshop is an opportunity to refine your technique, push creative limits, and challenge what it means to be truly present in performance.

Details:

Dates: June 16th - 20th

Time: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Location: Ultima Vez Studio, Brussels

Application Deadline: May 16, 2025

Price: €350

Workshop Leaders:

Thi Mai Nguyen – A French-Vietnamese dancer, director, and actress, Thi Mai Nguyen has toured globally as a performer in the works of Wim Vandekeybus, James Thiérrée, Damien Jalet, Benjamin Kahn, Leslie Mannès, Michelle Anne de Mey, and many more. She received the Maeterlinck Critics Prize for her debut creation ETNA, followed by critically acclaimed works such as PRÉMISSE and STAND BY, performed across Europe, Asia, and Latin America. In addition to her stage work, she has acted in films such as BLUSH and HERE AFTER by Wim Vandekeybus, and MISTER NOBODY by Jaco Van Dormael, among others. She choreographed for Hirokazu Kore-eda’s film LA VÉRITÉ and played a major role in the Berlinale-selected film REFLET DANS UN DIAMANT MORT. With a background in dance from Conservatoire National Supérieur de Paris, P.A.R.T.S., and SAE Institute in Brussels, she also trained extensively in Sanford Meisner’s acting technique. Her work seamlessly blends dance, theater, and film, emphasizing deep emotional connection, presence, and raw physicality.

Helder Seabra – A distinguished performer, teacher, director, and choreographer, Helder Seabra was born in Portugal and began his dance education at the Ginasiano Dance School before continuing at P.A.R.T.S. in Brussels. For over a decade, he was a key member of Ultima Vez/Wim Vandekeybus and Eastman/Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, contributing as a performer, choreographic assistant, and teacher. He has collaborated with renowned artists such as Damien Jalet and has been commissioned to create for major dance companies across Europe. In 2013, he founded Incognitus, his own creative platform, through which he explores the full potential of body and mind in movement. His style is marked by a fusion of raw energy and refined articulation, blending physicality with theatrical elements. As an educator, he has shared his knowledge worldwide, engaging with dancers in companies, festivals, and universities. His approach to movement challenges both technical rigor and creative depth, inspiring artists to push beyond their perceived limits.

How to Apply:
We invite professional dancers and performers (no age limit) to apply, as space is limited to 28 participants. To apply, please send a brief description of your journey as a dancer/performer and a short video showcasing your movement and/or acting skills to workshops@ultimavez.com before 16/05. Once you are selected you will receive a confirmation e-mail with payment information.

Join us for an intensive experience that goes beyond technique and where movement meets meaning.