Any attempt will end in crushed bodies and shattered bones

The Fernando Arrabal Hall (Nave 11) at Naves del Español in Matadero is hosting this choreography by Jan Martens, which has been developed  based on the text Extract of Spring by Ali Smith and refers to the ominous declaration made by the Chinese President,  Xi Jinping “Any attempt will end in crushed bodies and shattered bones”. Jan Martens addresses this violent language that incites physical violence and analyses it using a different language: that of dance.  The show can be seen from 10 to 12 May in evening performances.

From Internet trolls to Donald Trump’s speeches, society handles a violent language.  This show examines the moments when an individual or a group goes against the tide, stops or crosses boundaries. It is an ode to civil disobedience, rebelliousness and over-reaching.  It is an invitation to resist the progress march. What happens if you decide to stop following the violent crowd?

Any attempt will end in crushed bodies and shattered bones ranges from the brutal to the unabashedly romantic and everything in between.  The soundtrack is just as expansive and incorporates a wide range of pop songs and protest songs from diverse periods in history.

After his 2018 show, A small guide on how to treat your lifetime companion, which analysed sentimental relationships, Martens is back with a large group of dancers. New dancers alongside some well-known faces, such as Truus Bronkhorst, Tim Persent and Ty Boomershine, aged 68. According to Martens, they form a miniature society.

Artistic File:

Venue: Naves del Español at Matadero / Fernando Arrabal Hall (Nave 11)

• Choreography: Jan Martens
• Text: Extract from Spring by Ali Smith
• Cast: Abigail Aleksander, Pierre Bastin, Georgia Boddez, Ty Boomershine, Truus Bronkhorst, Camilla Bundel, Jim Buskens, Baptiste Cazaux, Zoë Chungong, Piet Defrancq, Naomi Gibson, Simon Lelievre, Kimmy Ligtvoet, Solal Mariotte, Cherish Menzo, Steven Michel, Gesine Moog, Dan Mussett, Wolf Overmeire, Tim Persent, Courtney May Robertson, Laura Vanborm, Zora Westbroek, Loeka Willems, Lia Witjes-Poole, Maisie Woodford and Paolo Yao
• Artistic Assistant: Anne-Lise Brevers
• Lighting Design: Jan Fedinger
• Costume Design: Cédric Charlier
• External Vision: Marc Vanrunxt, Renée Copraij, Rudi Meulemans and Siska Baeck
• A production by: DE SINGEL (Antwerp, BE), Freiburg Theatre (DE), Sadler’s Wells (London, UK), Julidans (Amsterdam, NL), Avignon Festival (FR), Le Gymnase CDCN Roubaix Hauts-de-France (FR), Norrlandsoperan (Umeå, SE), La Bâtie - Geneva Festival & l’ADC - Association for Contemporary Dance in Geneva (CH), tanzhaus nrw (Düsseldorf, DE), Le Parvis Scène Nationale Tarbes-Pyrénéés (Tarbes, FR), La Danse en grande forme (Cndc - Angers, Malandain Ballet Biarritz, La Manufacture - CDCN Nouvelle-Aquitaine Bordeaux – La Rochelle, CCN de Caen en Normandie, L’échangeur - CDCN Hauts-de-France, CCN de Nantes, CCN d’Orléans, Atelier de Paris / CDCN, Collectif Fair-e / CCN de Rennes et de Bretagne, Le Gymnase | CDCN Roubaix | Hauts-de-France, POLE-SUD CDCN / Strasbourg and La Place de La Danse - CDCN Toulouse Occitanie) and Perpodium
• With the support of: De Grote Post (Ostend, BE), Charleroi Danse (BE), CCNO - Centre Chorégraphique National d'Orléans in collaboration with Scène nationale d’Orléans (FR) and December Dance (Concertgebouw and CC Brugge)
• With the financial support of: The Flemish Government, city of Antwerp, Tax Shelter of the Belgian Federal Government and Cronos Invest
• Acknowledgements: Mr. Jean Chabert (STANLEY/STELLA), Wannes Labath, Nadine Scheuer and de! Kunsthumaniora
• Image Credit: © Phile Deprez

Warning: This show uses strobe lights so it may affect people with epilepsy.