Out of Context - for Pina

This iconic performance takes a deep dive into the depths of human existence.

Out of Context — for Pina is an iconic performance of choreographer Alain Platel and has only been performed by the original cast since its creation in 2010. Platel drew inspiration from his background as a special needs educator and his work with people with disabilities. Out of Context combines a range of uncontrolled movements, such as spasms, tics, and convulsions, with classical choreographic elements. This approach creates a tension between the unconscious and the conscious, the uncontrolled and the controlled. The performance seeks a harmony beyond opposites like beautiful and ugly, good and evil, self and other, individual and community – a state in which everything becomes fluid. A ritual that also leaves the audience transformed.

Last Summer, the newspaper De Standaard included Out of Context - for Pina in its list of the 25 most impressive stage performances of the 21st century.

Book presentation with Alain Platel

On Thursday, April 30, Alain Platel will premiere his book Een tachtiger die zeventig wordt. Anna Luyten will be in conversation with Alain Platel, and the book will be available for purchase on site in preview.

More about the book launch

Listen to the story of the dancers

In the third episode of the Body of Work podcast, several dancers from Out of Context – for Pina share their experience. Listen to their remarkable stories behind the performance and their intention to continue performing Out of Context every year, for as long as possible. What does it mean to grow old with a piece? Is the same work still the same after 15 years, when the dancers and their bodies are 15 years older, and when today’s audience sits in the theatre differently than at the premiere?

Body of Work podcast

CREDITS

concept & direction Alain Platel dance & created by Elie Tass, Emile Josse / Quan Bui Ngoc, Hyo Seung Ye, Kaori Ito, Mathieu Desseigne Ravel, Mélanie Lomoff, Romeu Runa, Rosalba Torres Guerrero, Ross McCormack dramaturgy Hildegard De Vuyst direction assistance Sara Vanderieck light design Carlo Bourguignon sound design & electronic music Sam Serruys costume design Dorine Demuynck sound engineer Bart Uyttersprot photography Chris Van der Burght production management & tour management Valerie Desmet touring Sepehr Sharifzadeh (laGeste) production laGeste co-production Théâtre de la Ville (Paris), Le Grand Théâtre de Luxembourg, TorinoDanza, Sadler’s Wells (London), Stadsschouwburg Groningenn, Tanzkongress 2009/ Kulturstiftung des Bundes, Kaaitheater (Brussels), Wiener Festwochen with tanks to Farah Saleh, Quan Bui Ngoc, Juliana Neves, Fabrizio Cassol, Isnel Da Silveira, Berlinde De Bruyckere, Toneelgroep Ceremonia with support of The Flemish authorities, City of Ghent