164 Van Volxem • Opening festival • 30.1 > 22.2.2026
ROSAS + P.A.R.T.S. + ICTUS
Dancingkids / Platform K / workspacebrussels / Dancingkets
Opening festival 30.1 > 22.2.2026
Let’s dance! Preferably with as many people and artists from all over.
That is precisely why the Van Volxem site longed for more space. And now, after years of planning, sketching, building, and rebuilding, Rosas, P.A.R.T.S., and Ictus are ready to create from our renewed home base: 164VANVOLXEM, a creative hub we’re excited to share with the next generation of artists, with the city, and with all of you.
We’re celebrating this moment with a special Opening Festival inspired by the iconic Rosas danst Rosas, the performance that started it all. For nearly a month, we invite you to dive into the work of more than 45 artists, each closely connected to this place in their own way. Join us as we step into this new chapter together.
Program
Hoketus (concert & dance version)
Ictus, Manama students, musicians from Friuli Venezia Giulia ensemble
Crucial source of inspiration for Rosas danst Rosas: the crazy musical hapax of Louis Andriessen, Hoketus. For this special occasion of the festival two dancers are dancing during the concert. Music students from the GAME Ensemble (School of Arts Ghent), coached by Ictus, present a live musical performance accompanying a new duet by Rosas dancers José Paulo dos Santos and Lav Crnčević. There will also be a Hoketus concert performance without dance on January 31.
MULTICAST Rosas danst Rosas – Five generations of Rosas
Since its premiere in 1983, Rosas danst Rosas has been restaged multiple times, and around thirty Rosas dancers have performed the work over the years. Fifteen of them will come together with the new cast to dance a unique multi-generational version of Rosas danst Rosas, created especially for this occasion.
Bernabo – Boštjan Antončič
Bernabo, a dance solo by Boštjan Antončič, was originally part of En Atendant, an evening-length choreography created for the Cloître des Célestins in Avignon in 2010. Bernabo was presented as an autonomous solo for the first time in the Horta Hall at Bozar in Brussels in March 2023, in the context of the exhibition Michel François: Contre nature.
FREE, no reservation required. Upon arrival, please gather in the social wing (public foyer).
Every week, hundreds of dancers of all ages gather at 164VANVOLXEM to study, practice, create, and exchange. The ‘super cast’ performance brings together P.A.R.T.S. students and members of Dancingkids and Platform K to create an impressive site-specific version of Rosas danst Rosas that will spread out to all corners of the newly renovated campus. This event is free, but a reservation is required.
Rosas danst Rosas – Fifth generation
In 1983, Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker had her international breakthrough with Rosas danst Rosas, which has since become a benchmark in the history of postmodern dance. This restaging of Rosas danst Rosas will feature an entirely new cast, the fifth generation of dancers: Momiji Kuromaru (TBC), Nina Godderis, Jasmine Achtari and Eva Galmel.
Petty Bison – Thomas Van Tuycom
In Petty Bison, four dancers expand urban dance into a full-length performance, bursting with energy, rapid shifts, and driving rhythms. What emerges is choreography on steroids: a torrent of motion and information that nonetheless maintains a sharp sense of direction. Though the choreographic language may be that of urban dance, the performers remain true to their own movement identities, driven by a swinging guitar soundtrack with an irresistible groove.
Ignoral – Soa Ratsifandrihana
Ignoral is a solo spin-off of Soa’s piece Fampitaha, fampita, fampitàna, in which she unpacks what we swallow, chew, ferment in contemporary-trained bodies, and what cries to be regurgitated.
FREE, no reservation required. Upon arrival, please gather in the social wing (public foyer).
Rosas danst Rosas – Performance for schools
Short version
In 1983, Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker had her international breakthrough with Rosas danst Rosas, which has since become a benchmark in the history of postmodern dance. This restaging of Rosas danst Rosas will feature an entirely new cast, the fifth generation of dancers: Momiji Kuromaru (TBC), Nina Godderis, Jasmine Achtari, and Eva Galmel.
Atlas / the Mountain – Radouan Mriziga
Radouan Mriziga’s recent work focuses on the mythology and culture of the Amazigh, the indigenous people of North Africa. In the trilogy ‘Atlas / the Mountain’, ‘Magec / the Desert’ and ‘Atlantis / the Sea’, Mriziga approaches these environments from the point of view of those who still consider them as a source of knowledge for the development of art, philosophy and sciences.
Ravages / Collages – Solal Mariotte & Lucas Messler
Ravages/Collages draws inspiration from breakdancing—particularly Up Rock—to question masculine codes and the virile heritage that accompanies them. The piece explores more sensitive forms characterized by fragility, softness, and sensuality, while also revealing the inner turmoil these reflections provoke. In collaboration with Ictus musician Lucas Messler.
Doppelgänger – Némo Flouret & Philomène Jander
A dance performance by Philomène Jander & Némo Flouret, emerging from their ongoing explorations of what it means to dance together.
RUSH – Mette Ingvartsen
RUSH is a solo for Manon Santkin, drawing on 20 years of collaboration with Mette Ingvartsen. The piece reactivates highlights from past works, creating a headlong rush of performance. It celebrates long-term collaboration and sees artistic practice as a protected, living ecosystem.
P.A.R.T.S. PRESENTS
Nicolas Dang, Marikki Nyfors, Silke Hamers & Leticia Ferreira, Marika Suzuki, Alice Bröker, Mira Maria Studer
P.A.R.T.S. PRESENTS is the name for public performances of P.A.R.T.S. students, organised by the school, presenting the results of workshops and projects within the curriculum. This edition of P.A.R.T.S. PRESENTS offers something unique: a selection of works performed by alumni from our recent Studios (2024) and Training (2025) graduates.
Change of Plans – Platform K, Femke Gyselinck
In Change of Plans, a co-production with GRIP, choreographer Femke Gyselinck explores the idea of changeability together with Zanne Boon and Oskar Stalpaert, dancers at the inclusive dance company Platform K. Together they search for the tension between choreography as a plan and the changeability that creeps in when that plan is set in motion.
Moteur – Cassiel Gaube
In his new solo, Moteur, Cassiel Gaube revisits the multiple dance techniques—from classical ballet and contemporary forms to social dances like house—that have shaped his understanding of dance. Each technical tradition is taken as a unique prism through which to apprehend the body's dancing possibilities. The work identifies their underlying logics and explores the new kinetic spaces emerging at their intersections.
P.A.R.T.S.@WORK
P.A.R.T.S@WORK is a platform where students present their work in progress to the public. These informal performances showcase a range of pieces developed by the students outside of their training, providing an opportunity to share their ongoing creative processes. It allows young dancers to gain stage experience and receive feedback, while offering the audience an insight into contemporary dance in development.
Rosas Remixed – 5Danst
Performed by 5th-year students of Secondary Arts Schools
5Danst is a yearly artistic gathering of all Flemish pre-professional training programs in dance. 51 students join in a communal workshop. The students take a dive into Rosas Repertory: EXIT ABOVE, Rosas danst Rosas and Rosas compositional tools led by three experts. After two intensive working days in Buda Tower, they will present the result in a 30-minute showing.
Maximalist! – Ictus
double bill, part 1
The music for Rosas danst Rosas was composed in 1983 by Thierry De Mey and Peter Vermeersch, who shortly afterwards founded the sextet ‘Maximalist!’. The turbulent history of this sextet later gave rise to the Ictus ensemble in 1994. That same concert: Contre-Six by the same composers. Both pieces are masterpieces of energy, swing, and melodic inventiveness, with a beauty of texture that rivals that of Steve Reich.
Parallels by Tristan Perich – Ictus
double bill, part 2
Tristan Perich's music always combines acoustic instruments and 1-bit microprocessors played through small individual speakers. The radical nature of his approach seems to want to reconnect with the spirit of 1960s Minimal Art, at a time when so many so-called “minimalists” are tempted by cheap religiosity.
Hoketus by Louis Andriessen (concert version)
Ictus, Manama students, musicians from Friuli Venezia Giulia ensemble
The musical hapax Hoketus was an important source of inspiration for Rosas danst Rosas. It retains the American minimalist sense of gradual, rudimentary processes that are transparent to the audience, but distances itself from the contemplative Californian aesthetic: Hoketus exudes rebellious energy and a Stravinsky-esque taste for dissonance. The Hoketus version with dance will performed with live music on January 31 and February 1.
EXIT ABOVE – Meskerem Mees & Carlos Garbin
Meskerem and Carlos perform the music of EXIT ABOVE live. They composed this album with Jean-Marie Aerts (†) for the dance performance by Rosas / Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker. With Walkin’ Blues as its foundation, EXIT ABOVE honors the blues as a timeless form of storytelling. The album draws inspiration from ‘disaster songs,’ such as the ballads about the Great Mississippi Flood.
Family dance workshop (6-9y)
In this family dance workshop, we begin with the iconic second movement of Rosas danst Rosas and create our own playful remix. Children aged 6 to 9 and their (grand)parents explore contemporary dance through imaginative improvisation and action–reaction games, dancing on, under,andwith chairs. A fun and creative movement guaranteed!
Family dance workshop (2-5y)
In this family dance workshop, we begin with the iconic second movement of Rosas danst Rosas and create our own playful remix. Children aged 2 to 5 and their (grand)parents explore contemporary dance through imaginative improvisation and action–reaction games, dancing on, under,and withchairs. A fun and creative movement guaranteed!
Open dance workshop (18+)
Led by Rosas dancer Laura-Maria Poletti, this workshop explores the iconic choreography Rosas danst Rosas. Through playful, accessible exercises, you’ll discover key phrases, repetition, rhythm, and group focus. Learn to listen, breathe together, and sense the group’s energy, balancing structure with expressive movement. No experience needed — just curiosity and joy!
Pro dance workshop (18+)
This workshop for participants with regular dance practice explores the choreographic world of Rosas danst Rosas, focusing on signature phrases, repetition, rhythm, and precise group work. Under the guidance of Rosas dancer Laura-Maria Poletti, you’ll refine unison, timing, and collective energy, learning to release into the movement while maintaining control and expressive presence.
Dance & singing – Workshop for seniors
Led by Giulia Sugranyes, this workshop invites seniors to explore gentle and simple movement, repetition on and around chairs, combined with shared breathing and light vocal work. Everything is accessible and can be done at your own pace. Bring a family member, a friend, or come alone and enjoy moving together in a comfortable and welcoming environment.
Creative workshop for children (4–8y)
Children aged 4 to 8 are invited to explore Rosas danst Rosas through playful movement and improvisation, and a guided visit to the archive exhibition. They’ll discover the choreography and its history in a fun, hands-on way. Meanwhile, parents can enjoy the performance of Rosas danst Rosas, making it a perfect family experience.
Creative workshop for children (9–12y)
Children aged 9 to 12 are invited to explore Rosas danst Rosas through playful movement and improvisation, and a guided visit to the archive exhibition. They’ll discover the choreography and its history in a fun, hands-on way. Meanwhile, parents can enjoy the performance of Rosas danst Rosas, making it a perfect family experience.
Open Fridays – Platform K
(Almost) Every Friday afternoon, Platform K organises an Open Friday. Open Fridays are open classes in instant composition based on improvisation, for dancers with (basic) experience. Instant composition means (co-)creating movements in the moment, based on the space, the other dancers, your feelings, and the music. This session is led by Nick Robaey. Come and dance with us!
Discover the macrobiotic kitchen of Rosas and P.A.R.T.S. Chef Valentina will take you through by a cooking demo with background information and some delicious tastings in the end where you notice the love and energy that goes through the stomach.
Dance Battle – with Nassim Baddag
Rosas is launching its first Dance Battle under the guidance of Nassim Baddag! This all-style battle unites every dance discipline — hip-hop, breaking, contemporary, jazz, waacking, experimental, and more — in a spirit of exchange and celebration. With a jury, guests, a DJ, and cash prizes to win, this open-to-all event welcomes both experienced dancers and those entering their very first battle.
Sub Rosa, an exhibition on the history of Rosas danst Rosas
Created in 1983, Rosas danst Rosas is recognized as one of the most influential works in the history of contemporary dance in Belgium and internationally. Bringing together a unique collection of notebooks, documents, photographs, and exclusive videos and films, this exhibition charts the creation and transmission of this seminal work, including the participative project Re:Rosas! developed with fABULEUS in 2013.
FREE, no reservation required. Upon arrival, please gather in the social wing (public foyer).
Expo 30 years – P.A.R.T.S.
This Expo celebrates the 30th anniversary of P.A.R.T.S. as we go back in time to revisit some key moments in the school’s history. A display of selected archival material will be exhibited, allowing visitors a glimpse into the rich past of the school.
FREE, no reservation required. Upon arrival, please gather in the social wing (public foyer).
Inauguration Zeitgeber (+ Bernabo) – Ann Veronica Janssens & Michel François
The transformation of the Van Volxem site is an example of living architecture, a site of encounters. It acquires a new dimension with the addition of a new, permanent artwork by Ann Veronica Janssens and Michel François. The work is titled Zeitgeber. Its core is a monumental tree trunk from a century-old American oak. Placed on the meadow, it becomes not only a sculpture, but also a site of gathering – a social sculpture that brings people together. Boštjan Antončič will perform his solo Bernabo during the inauguration.
FREE, no reservation required. Upon arrival, please gather in the social wing (public foyer).
Rosas danst Rosas – Thierry De Mey
In 1996, Thierry De Mey filmed Rosas danst Rosas in an abandoned technical school in Leuven designed by modernist architect Henry Van de Velde. This film, in which De Mey opts for a heavily ‘inter-cut’ version of the choreographic work, brings together multiple generations of Rosas dancers. The film screening will be preceded by a talk between Thierry De Mey and Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker. Please reserve for both events
La Musique du Geste, a portrait of Georges-Elie Octors – Isabelle Dumont
The film paints a portrait of Georges-Elie Octors, who was the conductor and musical director of the Ictus ensemble for 25 years. The son of a famous Belgian-Congolese conductor, he had to forge his own path through his father's legacy and his commitment to contemporary music.
Talk: About Rosas danst Rosas – Thierry De Mey & Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker
For Rosas danst Rosas (1983), choreography and music developed simultaneously. While the dancers rehearsed on the first floor, Thierry De Mey composed the music in the basement of the studio on Brussels’ Rue de Brabant. Join us for a conversation about the art scene in Brussels in the 1980s, what inspired them, how Rosas danst Rosas came about, and how it informed their careers.
Dancing Dialogues – P.A.R.T.S
Dancing Dialogues is a year-long series marking P.A.R.T.S.’ 30th anniversary, spotlighting the schools teachers and their contributions. The series begins during the 164VANVOLXEM Festival with three sessions devoted to theory, inclusivity and repertoire transmission. Speakers include: Bojana Cvejic, Funmi Adewole, Rudi Laermans, Inge Lattré, Michael Pomero, Stephane Bourhis, Clinton Stringer, Diane Madden and Johanne Saunier. This event is free, but a reservation is required.
Open House – P.A.R.T.S.
P.A.R.T.S. opens its doors for a special Open House, welcoming visitors to explore the school. Discover students’ daily practice and the school’s role within the creative ecosystem of 164VANVOLXEM. An ideal opportunity for prospective students and anyone curious about our community and artistic life. This event is free, but a reservation is required.
Guided tours – Van Volxem Site: history and architecture
The Van Volxem site has been completely renovated by architects from Vers.A and Ouest. Interested in the history and the renovation of the site? Then this is your chance. This event is free, but a reservation is required.
Festival Calendar 30.1 > 22.2.2026
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Tu
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Fr
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Fr 30.1
Sa 31.1
Su 01.2
We 04.2
Th 05.2
Fr 06.2
Sa 07.2
Su 08.2
Tu 10.2
We 11.2
Th 12.2
Fr 13.2
Sa 14.2
Su 15.2
Tu 17.2
We 18.2
Th 19.2
Fr 20.2
Sa 21.2
Su 22.2
Address
Avenue Van Volxemlaan 164, 1190 Vorst/Forest mail@rosas.be / T +32 2 344 55 98
We encourage you to come to the festival with public transport, by bike or on foot. Parking around the venue in the streets is limited, so if you plan to come by car, be sure to arrive early!
Upon arrival, you are warmly invited to the social wing (the public foyer), where light snacks and soup will be waiting for you at the bar. The bar opens half an hour before the first event of the day.
Accessibility for people with reduced mobility
Anyone coming in a wheelchair, please notify our festival team by email or by phone. If you have any doubts or specific needs, do not hesitate to contact us at mail@rosas.be or +32 2 344 55 98.
Please let us know in advance so we can reserve a seat for you.
