BEYOND
BEYOND is a vibrant and energetic, yet poetic circus and dance performance that tests, challenges and ultimately transcends boundaries. Choreographed by Piet Van Dycke, BEYOND features six professional performers, each an expert in a different discipline - ladder walking, acrodance, acrobike, partner acrobatics and pole dancing. On stage, they become boundless bridge builders.
Using ladders of varying sizes and heights, the performers construct impressive structures, such as arch sculptures and rotating cranes. They balance the ladders to create a thrilling, unstable playing field. They explore unknown territories, climb, float and engage in a daring choreography. Every inch and every second counts. They push the boundaries and discover how far they can push each other. Physical dependence has never been this exciting. BEYOND explores the fragility, absurdity and the strength of boundaries, showing how we can expand them through collaboration. Together, we dance on the collective ladders of human imagination.
Concept, choreography: Piet Van Dycke
Performers: Helena Berger, Aurora Mesropyan, Josse Roger, Daniele Ippolito, Marylou Aupic, Georgia Begbie
Music: Bastian Benjamin
Dramaturgy: Marie Peeters
Installation: Arjan Kruidhof
Costume: Oona Mampuys
Lightdesign: Raf Wouters, Casper Van Overschee
Technique: Casper Van Overschee
Executive producer: Sam Cunningham
Production: Circumstances vzw
Co-production: Festival Boulevard, CIRC’UIT, Circuswerkplaats Dommelhof, PERPLX, Perpodium, Miramiro, Cirklabo, Stad Leuven, fABULEUS
Special thanks to: Ella Copermans, Destelheide, HET LAB, C-mine, CC MUZE, CC Casino, De Adelberg Cultural Centre, CC Maasmechelen, CC de VELINX
Supported by: The Flemish Government
What makes BEYOND so beautiful, besides its thoughtful dramaturgical structure and the impressive acrobatic work, is the interplay between the performers themselves and their caring attention toward the audience. In BEYOND, they explore all — truly all — possibilities of their objects, their bodies, and with that, also of my imagination.
Seemingly, they perform the acrobatic, swirling moves effortlessly. Together, they build a sculpture of bodies, throw themselves from great ladder heights into each other’s arms, and make the audience dizzy for a moment by swinging above their heads. The interaction with the spectators is pleasant; they look at us as if to say, ‘everything will be all right.’
When you build bridges, you find the other and achieve goals you wouldn’t have thought possible.
- Later, straight ladders are added, with which the performers form a hexagonal prism and climb it, purely by balancing each other. It’s a beautifully serene moment, just before building towards a spectacular climax. (…) With BEYOND, Circumstances has once again crafted a broad public hit.