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Type: Dance

Dance meets architecture in Blind Spot. On a city tour with headphones, choreographer Jelena Kostić invites audiences to see Tilburg with new eyes. Blind Spot was a great success in 2021 and was followed by editions in Maastricht, Rotterdam and Eindhoven. Now, in collaboration with Fontys Academy of the Arts, Blind Spot returns to the place where it all began: Tilburg.

When in 2020 people disappeared from the streets and life turned upside down, Jelena began to see her hometown Tilburg anew. What struck her was the multitude of striking architecture. The shapes, the play of lines, and the untold stories of the city and its buildings. All things we overlook in everyday life, but which can be made visible and tangible through dance.

During Blind Spot, visitors go on a walk through the city center with headphones on, starting at Theater De Nieuwe Vorst and ending at the Kantongerecht. A voice-over leads the visitors along five different locations, where dancers enter into a dialogue with striking buildings. They embody the stories and emotions hidden behind the stones, exploring the relationship between people and structures.

Pers

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“Acrobatische toeren van drie dansers vormden het spectaculaire sluitstuk in ‘Blind Spot’, een wandeling van anderhalf uur langs plekken waar korte dansvoorstellingen werden gegeven. Het waren plaatsen waar je anders aan voorbij gaat zonder ze op te merken.”

– Brabants Dagblad over Blind Spot – Tilburg (2021)

CREDITS

Choreography & concept – Jelena Kostić
Rehearsal direction – Blazej Jasinski and Noëmi Wagner
Dancers – Students of Fontys Academy of the Arts
Voice actor – Maeve van der Steen
Dramaturgic & artistic advisor, concept development – Lou Cope
Repetitor & artistic advice – Judit Ruiz Onandi
Performance text & publicity – Laura Roling
Composer – Dyane Donck
Production – Danielle Pater
Business manager – Petra de Haan
Sales & strategy – Hedi Legerstee
Campaign image – Nataša Radosavljević / Lonneke van der Palen

Made possible with the support of Fontys Academy of the Arts, Gemeente Tilburg & Fonds Podiumkunsten

Special thanks to CAST Tilburg, Tilburg Citymarketing, Theater De Nieuwe Vorst, Thomas Bedaux, Jacq de Brouwer, Peter van Dinter & Dirk van Alphen

Type: Dance

The fight or flight mechanism is our body’s instinctive response to perceived danger, honed by evolution to ensure survival. But what happens if we don’t run, hide, or fight – what world of fascinating truth is there for us to discover if we dare to embrace feelings of discomfort? 

In Fight or Flight, choreographer Jelena Kostić explores different forms of human discomfort: physical, mental and social. Exclusively for the Dance Promenade of the Limburg Festival, Jelena and her dancers will create an intimate, compelling and thoughtful experience with influences of psychological thrillers. In the 2024-25 season, Jelena will develop the full-length performance Unease based on the same theme, which will tour the Netherlands. 

CREDITS

Concept & Choreography Jelena Kostić
Dancers Tijmen Teunissen, Noëmi Wagner, Oscar Magnusson, Emma Zeimen 
Scenography Davy van Gerven
Composition Tom Sikkers
Lighting design Bart Verzellenberg
Dramaturgy Lou Cope
Artistic advice & repetiteur Judit Ruiz Onandi

Type: Dance

In her newest dance production Unease, choreographer Jelena Kostić explores different forms of human discomfort: physical, mental and social. What do we as humans feel the urge to look away from? What situations do we prefer to avoid? Why do we value comfort and ease, and what happens when we actually enter into a state of discomfort and embrace what we encounter there? 

Unease begins in the foyer of the theatre, where audience and performers first meet. Then, the audience is led into a specially designed immersive theatrical space. Here, the dancers let the audience experience, in an immersive and intimate choreography, how embracing discomfort could lead to surprising experiences, growth and new insights. Expect an intimate, immersive and thought-provoking experience with ingredients from psychological thrillers.

CREDITS
Concept & Choreography Jelena Kostić
Dancers Blazej Jasinski, Noëmi Wagner, Tijmen Teunissen, Fleur Roks
Scenography Davy van Gerven
Lighting design Bart Verzellenberg
Dramaturgy Lou Cope
Artistic advice & repetiteur Judit Ruiz Onandi

Type: Dance

In a world where we are surrounded by stimuli, we often close off our senses. In Blind Spot – Eindhoven, choreographer Jelena Kostić makes visible and tangible what is right in front of us. In a theatrical walk full of contrasts, the urban environment, dance and freerunning come together to open our eyes to new perspectives.

With headphones on, the audience is led on an immersive walking tour through industrial Strijp-S and Strijp-T, ending at the UFO-like Evoluon. In various choreographies, Jelena plays with our ideas and expectations of space and our surroundings.

After the success of Blind Spot – Tilburg (2021), Blind Spot – Maastricht (2022) and Blind Spot – Rotterdam, choreographer Jelena Kostić creates an entirely new experience for Eindhoven, especially for the Urban Dansdagen Festival. With a dance language strongly influenced by freerunning and the raw environment of Eindhoven, Jelena casts new perspectives on the raw and surprising edges of Eindhoven.

En route through the neighbourhood, the company makes use of the architecture by balancing on it, hanging over it, moving in between.

Theaterkrant on Blind Spot – Rotterdam

Practical information for visitors:

The performance will start punctually at café De Oude Telefooncentrale (Professor Horowitzstraat 200). Be there in advance to have your ticket scanned and to receive headphones.

The performance ends at the Evoluon (Noord Brabantlaan 1a). From there, it’s a 15-minute (distance: 1 km) walk back to the starting point (or you can take the bus for two stops).

Please note: This performance consists of a walk through the city, and the weather can be unpredictable. Please bring a rain jacket and/or umbrella in case of rain!

CREDITS
Choreography , concept and artistic direction – Jelena Kostić
Dancers & performers – Noëmi Wagner, Tijmen Teunissen, Emma Zeimen, Levi de Jager & Josien Hennen
Voice actor – Gusta Geleijnse
Composer – Dyane Donck
Audio post production & sound design – Tom Sikkers
Repetitor & artistic advice – Judit Ruiz Onandi
Dramaturgy & texts – Lou Cope
Costumes – Rens de Waal
Business management – Petra de Haan
Sales – Hedi Legerstee
Production manager – Danielle Pater

Supported by: Fonds Podiumkunsten, Gemeente Tilburg
Special thanks to: Stimuleringsfonds Architectuur, Stichting Sample Culture, Parktheater Eindhoven, Vitória Aquino, Evoluon – Nina Monfils, René Erven – Architectuurcentrum Eindhoven

Type: Dance

Today will be my day. 
All the omens are good. 
I feel fantastic. 
Nothing or no one is stopping me now.

In Happiness, Jelena shows how wonderful it can be to feel joyful and carefree, but also how fragile joy is and how easily it can turn into something else. With her theatrical dance language and the use of humour, she creates a performance that is both relatable and moving. 

CREDITS
Choreography and concept – Jelena Kostić
In collaboration with the dancers – Noëmi Wagner, Blazej Jasinski, Arturo Francisco
Dramaturgy, concept and text – Lou Cope
Artistic advisor & repetiteur – Judit Ruiz Onandi
Composer – Evelien van den Broek
Set design – Davy van Gerven
Costume design – Rens de Waal
Art work / campaign image – Nataša Radosavljević & Lonneke van der Palen
Production manager – Daniëlle Pater
Business management – Petra de Haan
Sales – Hedi Legerstee

With support from: Performing Arts Fund, Municipality of Tilburg

Type: Dance

We all feel like losers sometimes. When the grass is greener next door, when someone outshines us or when we trip in a less-than-elegant manner in the middle of a busy street. Even though we’re deeply ashamed, we know we’ll be able to laugh about it – eventually.

Stand back, I’m a loser on a winning streak.

Ocean Vuong, “Beautiful Short Loser”

In Losers, Jelena Kostić explores different aspects of ‘loserhood’: shame, (self)pity, grief, and the need to put our poorer moments into perspective and transform them for the better. Using humour as her weapon, Jelena creates a dance performance that captures the feeling of losing in a multifaceted theatrical movement language. 

Trailer for Losers

The dancers repeat a routine of falling, sliding and getting up, interspersed with movement and text solos. A range of behaviours is featured: arrogance, conceit, disappointment, insecurity, pretending… There is a lot of playing with the audience’s gaze. After all, being a loser is mostly about whether others judge you to be one. It is all about watching and being watched. The dancers inspect each other, copy each other, turn their backs on each other and then face each other once again.

– Theaterkrant

Documentary film

Simultaneously with Losers, the new documentary Behind The Dance by Nikola Kostić, Jelena’s brother, will be shown. He followed the creative process of the Kostić performance Blind Spot – Rotterdam with his camera and captured the various setbacks and victories in making this challenging location performance. 

CREDITS
Choreography and concept – Jelena Kostić
in collaboration with the dancers – Noëmi Wagner, Blazej Jasinski, Tijmen Teunissen, Oliver Wagstaff
Dramaturgy, concept and text – Lou Cope
Artistic advisor & repetiteur – Judit Ruiz Onandi
Composer – Evelien van den Broek
Set design – Davy van Gerven
Lighting design – Bart Verzellenberg
Costume design – Rens de Waal
Art work / campaign image – Nataša Radosavljević & Lonneke van der Palen
Thanks to – Andreas Denk

With support from: Performing Arts Fund, Municipality of Tilburg, BNG Cultuurfonds, Fonds21

Trailer for ‘Behind the Dance’

Type: Dance

In a world where we are surrounded by stimuli, we often close off our senses. In Blind Spot – Rotterdam choreographer Jelena Kostić makes visible and tangible what is right in front of us. In a theatrical walk full of contrasts, the urban environment and dance come together to open our eyes to new perspectives. 

With headphones on, the audience is led on a walk through Rotterdam Zuid, starting near Hotel New York. In various choreographies, Jelena plays with our ideas and expectations of space and our surroundings.

After the success of Blind Spot – Tilburg in the summer of 2021 and Blind Spot – Maastricht in the fall of 2022, choreographer Jelena Kostić creates an entirely new experience for Rotterdam, especially for the Rotterdam Architectuur Maand. With a dance language strongly influenced by freerunning and the raw environment of Rotterdam-Zuid, Jelena shows the city from a new perspective.

“After versions in Tilburg (2021) and Maastricht (2022), Kostić has created this new route through Rotterdam for Rotterdam Architecture Month. In her dance language, freerunning predominates. Rotterdam Zuid provides an excellent backdrop for this. En route through the neighbourhood, the company makes use of the architecture by balancing on it, hanging over it, moving in between.”

– Theaterkrant.nl

CREDITS
Choreography , concept and artistic direction – Jelena Kostić
Dancers & performers – Noëmi Wagner, Isabelle Nelson, Tijmen Teunissen, Blazej Jasinski & Josien Hennen
Voice actor – Gusta Geleijnse
Composer – Dyane Donck
Audio post production & sound design – Tom Sikkers
Repetitor & artistic advice – Judit Ruiz Onandi
Dramaturgy & texts – Lou Cope
Texts & editing – Laura Roling
Costumes – Rens de Waal
Business management – Petra de Haan
Sales – Hedi Legerstee
Production manager – Danielle Pater

Supported by: Stimuleringsfonds Architectuur, Fonds Podiumkunsten, Gemeente Tilburg, Volkskracht, Elise Mathilde Fonds
Special thanks to: AIR Rotterdam

Type: Dance

Immerse yourself in the creation process and themes of Jelena Kostić’s new performance Losers (premiere autumn 2023). At the Open Studio, Jelena will present work-in-progress scenes with her dancers, and we will discuss the performance’s themes with experts. 

Losers is a performance that focuses on an experience that is familiar to all of us in one way or another: that of feeling like — or actually being — a loser. For the first time, Jelena is striving to incorporate humour into her dance language, making Losers a special and exciting new project. 

The second edition of the Open Studio will take place on Sunday 23 April at 7 p.m. at Club SoDa (DansBrabant) in Tilburg, at the end of a rehearsal and workshopping period with the dancers. They will perform scenes they have worked on in the preceding days.

We will also sit down with two guests to discuss how they relate to the performance and the theme.

Guests

Evelien van den Broek
Evelien van den Broek is a composer, performer and producer. She writes music at the interface of adventurous electronica pop, sound art and contemporary classical music. For Losers, she composes the music – a first collaboration between choreographer and composer!

Twan Hendriks
Tilburg artist Twan Hendriks’ world turned upside down when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. But he did not throw in the towel and still tries to inspire people through his art, including his art project ‘Parkinson Grass Field’ and his Parki Foundation, with which he draws attention to the debilitating disease.

The evening will be hosted by Hedi Legerstee. 

How to register

Attendance is free, the programme lasts one hour. 

You can register via this link. And of course there will be an opportunity to talk over a drink at Club SoDa afterwards.

Type: Dance

In a world where we are surrounded by stimuli, we often close off our senses. In Blind Spot: Maastricht choreographer Jelena Kostić makes visible and tangible what is right in front of us. In a theatrical walk full of contrasts, the urban environment and dance come together to open our eyes to new perspectives. 

With headphones on, the audience takes a walk through the raw Sphinx Quarter, starting at coffee roastery Blanche Dael. In various choreographies, Jelena plays with our ideas and expectations of space and our surroundings.

After the success of Blind Spot: Tilburg in the summer of 2021, choreographer Jelena Kostić creates an entirely new experience for Maastricht, especially for the Nederlandse Dansdagen. With a dance language strongly influenced by freerunning and the raw industrial environment of the Sphinx Quarter, Jelena shows the city from a new perspective.

CREDITS

Choreography and artistic direction – Jelena Kostić
Dancers & performers – Noëmi Wagner, Isabelle Nelson, Tijmen Teunissen, Ischa Statie en Josien Hennen
Voice actor – Gusta Geleijnse
Research locations – Bureau Europa
Composer – Dyane Donck
Audio post production & sound design – Tom Sikkers
Repetitor & artistic advice– Judit Ruiz Onandi
Dramaturgy & texts – Lou Cope
Texts & editing – Laura Roling
Costumes – Rens de Waal
Business management – Petra de Haan
Sales – Hedi Legerstee
Production manager – Danielle Pater

Supported by: Stimuleringsfonds Architectuur, Gemeente Tilburg & Fonds Podiumkunsten

Special thanks to: Bureau Europa en Nederlandse Dansdagen

Type: Dance

Ignorance is bliss, so the saying goes. We all blindly strive for more, more, more: a bigger house, a better job, a newer mobile phone. But why do we tend to shy away from the difficult questions related to growth?

In a compelling choreography for two dancers and a web of slacklines – cords to balance on and hang from – Jelena sketches a portrait of people. Poignant and recognizable: can we as humans escape our desire for more, more, more? How much more can we want, and when is enough truly enough?

This choreography is created especially for the Limburg Festival

In rehearsal with the slacklines

CREDITS

Concept and co-creatie – Jelena Kostić and Dyane Donck
Choreography – Jelena Kostić
Composition – Dyane Donck
Danscrs – Blazej Jasinski and Noëmi Wagner
Repetitor – Judit Ruiz Onandi