Heleen Van Haegenborgh: Nimble
Heleen Van Haegenborgh is composing a purely electronic soundtrack for an upcoming, large-scale dance production. The piece is set for an extensive international tour, with around 30 performances already scheduled between November 19, 2026, and April 29, 2027, across France, Belgium, and Switzerland.
This major new production, titled Nimble (2026), is the largest creation to date by the renowned dance company Not Standing, directed by choreographer Alexander Vantournhout. Nine dancers form a contemporary corps de ballet, exploring the immense power of collective bodily rhythm. Inspired by the intricate footwork of boxers, Vantournhout shifts the focus entirely to the lower body, shining a spotlight on movements that usually escape our attention.
Central to this pulsating performance is its unique musical identity, shaped entirely by Heleen Van Haegenborgh’s electronic score. In Nimble, the boundaries between dancer and musician completely blur. Rather than performing to a passive background track, the performers physically generate and deliver the soundtrack live on stage. Van Haegenborgh’s innovative composition transforms their physical movements into an immersive soundscape of beats, polyrhythms, loops, and vibrant live electronics.
As the collective body moves through the expansive stage space, Van Haegenborgh’s music and Vantournhout’s choreography continuously propel each other forward, turning the entire stage into one single, physical rhythm
Choreography Alexander Vantournhout
Creation and performance Chia-Hung Chung, Lewis Cooke, Júlia Godino Llorens, Dimitri Landoz, Giulia Tornarolli, Emmi Väisänen, Hendrik Van Maele/Alexander de Vries, Esse Vanderbruggen, Alexander Vantournhout
Artistic assistance Emmi Väisänen, Esse Vanderbruggen
Dramaturgy Rudi Laermans
Musical dramaturgy Katherina Lindekens
Rehearsal director Miguel do Vale
Costume design Patty Eggerickx
Costume assistance Isabelle Airaud, Kai Sin Chau, Coline Paquet
Composition Heleen Van Haegenborgh
Rhythm coach Gideon Van Canneyt
Props Willy Cauwelier, Pete Farmer
Light design Luc Schaltin
Sound design Alex Fostier
Sound Brecht Beuselinck
Technical coordination Bram Vandeghinste
Technician Bert Van Dijck
Company manager Esther Maas
Production manager Janne Coonen
Tour manager Janne Coonen, Loïs Martens
Communication manager Kiki Verschueren
Tourplanning Frans Brood Productions
Photos Bart Grietens
Thanks to Samuele Baschieri, Carry De Clerq, Lea Diercksen, Axel Guérin, Dylan Brahim Labiod, Alexa Moya Panksep, Jules Renaud, Tos Schoonjans
Production Not Standing vzw
Coproduction Arts Centre VIERNULVIER (Ghent, BE), December Dance (Concertgebouw Bruges and Cultuurcentrum Bruges, BE), Maison des Arts de Créteil (Créteil, FR), Charleroi danse – centre chorégraphique de Wallonie (Brussels, BE), Les Salins – scène national de Martigues (Martigues, FR), Les Halles de Schaerbeek (Brussels, BE), STUK – Huis voor Dans (Leuven, BE), LOD Muziektheater (Ghent, BE), Théâtre de Caen (Caen, FR)
Residencies Wood Cube (Roeselare, BE), Peeping Tom (Brussels, BE), Studio Thor (Brussels, BE), le CENTQUATRE (Paris, FR), Arts Centre VIERNULVIER (Ghent, BE), STUK – Huis voor Dans (Leuven, BE), Charleroi danse – centre chorégraphique de Wallonie (Brussels, BE)
With the support of Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels.
With the support of the Tax Shelter of the Belgian Federal Government, via Flanders Tax Shelter.
Not Standing/Alexander Vantournhout is artist-in-residence at Kunstencentrum VIERNULVIER in Ghent and associated artist of le CENTQUATRE Paris and Maison des Arts de Créteil. Not Standing is supported by the Flemish Government and Fondation BNP Paribas for the development of their projects.
- Composer(s) Heleen Van Haegenborgh
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Title(s) of the Work(s)
Nimble
- Performer, Ensemble or Orchestra dance company Not Standing
- Nov 20 2026
- 20:30 - 22:00
