What the Body Does Not Remember - Revival

AN ICONIC DANCE PIECE

In 1987, Wim Vandekeybus created What the Body Does Not Remember with his newly founded company Ultima Vez. The piece, not immediately labelled as dance, changed the field forever and received the famous Bessie Award in New York for this “brutal confrontation of dance and music".

In 2013, 25 years later and with a new team, the show toured the world again with a live music version played by Ictus. Now, in 2026, this groundbreaking show will be presented again in a live music edition, in joint venture with the world famous Ensemble Intercontemporain.

"Tough, brutal, playful, ironic and terrific. Adjectives seem unduly passive in describing What the Body Does Not Remember, an extraordinarily innovative dance piece."
— Anna Kisselgof in The New York Times, November 22nd, 1987

THE MUSIC

The music of What the Body Does Not Remember, composed by Thierry De Mey and Peter Vermeersch, plays a crucial role in driving the raw and physical intensity of the performance. Its percussive rhythms and abrupt changes in tempo mirror the dancers' explosive movements and split-second reactions. The score's minimalist yet powerful nature enhances the atmosphere of tension and unpredictability, amplifying the visceral impact of the choreography.

This dynamic interplay between music and movement underscores the themes of instinct and survival, making the auditory experience as compelling as the visual. Together, De Mey and Vermeersch's compositions create a sonic landscape that is integral to the production's unforgettable impact.

THE DANCE

With his debut production What the Body Does Not Remember, Vandekeybus unleashed a veritable artistic storm. It was no ordinary performance but rather a raw, physical experience balancing on the razor's edge of attraction and repulsion. The dancers moved with lightning speed and precise timing, reacting instinctively to each other and the music. Humorous moments threaded through explosions of aggression, fear, and danger in this adrenaline-fueled, intensely physical performance.

What the Body revealed the essence of instinctive reflexes, rooted in the unadulterated reality of existence, and laid the foundations for Vandekeybus' distinctive dance language. Performers threw stones above their heads while running across the stage at increasing speeds, creating a visceral and unforgettable experience for the audience as they danced on the edge of the abyss.

THE PARTNERS
Ensemble Intercontemporain (EIC)
Created by Pierre Boulez in 1976 with the support of Michel Guy (then Secretary of State for Culture) and in collaboration with Nicholas Snowman. Dedicated to music from the 20th century to the present day, the 31 soloist musicians are led by French conductor Pierre Bleuse. They participate in exploring new musical territories alongside composers, who are commissioned to create new works each year. The Ensemble also develops projects integrating new technologies (music computing, multimedia, spatialization techniques, etc.), some in collaboration with IRCAM. They are in residence at the Cité de la Musique – Philharmonie de Paris, performing in France and abroad, regularly invited by major international venues and festivals.

Philharmonie de Paris
The city of music, equipped with several concert halls, a museum, a media library, and educational spaces, contributes to the development of musical life and knowledge of music and its heritage. Its programming mixes classical repertoire, baroque music, contemporary creation, jazz, pop, world music, etc. The Music on Stage program mixes music with new aesthetics through dance, lighting design, visual arts, and video, breaking down barriers between genres and audiences.

Thierry De Mey
Thierry De Mey, born in Brussels in 1956, is a composer, film director, and percussionist known for integrating mathematical structure into his artistic work. Influenced by Henri Van Lier and Fernand Schirren, De Mey developed a unique vision of rhythm as movement. He co-founded the Maximalist! group and the Ictus Ensemble, collaborating extensively with choreographers like Wim Vandekeybus and Anne-Teresa De Keersmaeker. De Mey's compositions, such as Musique de Tables (1987), explore the boundaries between music and movement, often involving intricate, dance-like hand movements. His work has received numerous awards and international recognition, blending dance, film, and music into a cohesive artistic expression.

Peter Vermeersch
Peter Vermeersch, born in 1959, began his career studying architecture but transitioned to music, playing clarinet and saxophone in various groups. He co-founded the influential group Maximalist! in 1984 and later formed the avant-garde band X-Legged Sally, known for its eclectic mix of genres and collaborations with choreographers like Wim Vandekeybus. Vermeersch also established the Flat Earth Society, a big band blending 1930s music with modern arrangements. His compositions are characterized by a blend of popular and classical genres, often featuring minimalistic and repetitive structures. Vermeersch has also made significant contributions as a music producer, working with notable bands like dEUS and Think of One.

PREMIÈRE
Philharmonie de Paris – 17th of June 2026