Les Ballets C de la B

Badke is inspired by dabke, a celebratory Palestinian folk dance.

Belgian artists Koen Augustijnen, Rosalba Torres Guerrero (les ballets C de la B) and Hildegard De Vuyst (KVS) created this production in collaboration with ten Palestinian performers from different dance backgrounds, including traditional dabke, modern dance, hip-hop, capoeira and circus.

Dabke is an infectious, inclusive and popular form of dance in Palestine and across the region. The 10 dancers of Badke turn it into thrilling, even anarchic theatre: an eruption of joy and an affirmation of belonging.

Badke is an expression of both a sense of belonging and a desire to be part of the wider world.

But behind the relentless energy and joy also lie darker moments, alluding to life under occupation and violence. This other reality seeps into the celebratory surface of Badke.

In the end, one thought prevails: we will dance until we collapse. The dancers push themselves to new extremes, driven by the Nasser Al-Faris' infectious sound-score.