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Artistic Director
Hans Van den Broeck
SOIT
is a performance group based in Brussels, founded and directed by Hans Van den Broeck. The company works with different performers and dancers. According to each production, the constellation changes. Hans Van den Broeck’s interest is to create multidisciplinary performances and video projects, looking for the fractures in society and life.
After graduating in Psychology at the University of Leuven (B), Hans Van den Broeck continued his studies in Film at the City University of New York. Upon his return to Belgium, he danced in several performances by Alain Platel and became a choreographer of the collective, les ballets C de la B, which he also co-founded. Within this company, Hans Van den Broeck directed several internationally-touring pieces: ‘How to approach a dog’ (1992), ‘Everyman’ (1994), ‘(They Feed, We) Eat, Eat, Eat’ (1996), ‘Au progrès’ (1998), ‘La Sortie’ (1999), ‘Induced Sleep’ (2000), ‘Lac des Singes’ (2001).
Les Ballets C de la B became very successful and unfolded into a large company structure, solidifying its position in the dance world with notable characteristics. After twelve years Hans Van den Broeck left the acclaimed company in order to return to the grassroots of his independent work. He established his own company by the name SOIT, standing for STAY ONLY IF TEMPORARY. Since the birth of SOIT and with the same uncompromising authenticity, he has continued to work consistently, further developing his distinctive, daring voice. With SOIT he has created major productions like ‘Almost Dark’ (2004), ‘En Servicio’ (2006), ‘We Was Them’ (2009), ‘Messiah Run!’ (2012) , ‘The Lee Ellroy Show’ (2014) , ‘Celestial Commute’ (2015) many other projects ‘Deed of Arrangement’ (2003), ‘Durchgang’ (2005), ‘Café Prückel’ (2010), ‘Homeland’ (2011 & 2013), ‘The Unrelenting Condition…’(2013), ‘Café Italo-Belge’ (2013), ‘Roadrage’ (2014), ‘Celestial Commute’ (2015) assisted ‘Tre Systrar’ 2013 (Göteborg). He directed a ‘Settlement‘ (2014) performance at the Box Gallery in Los Angeles and directed ‘Motherdog‘ 2018 in the City Theatre of Göteborg.
Hans Van den Broeck’s work is rough, visceral, uncompromising, committed, suggestive, poetical, visual and cinematic.
Alongside his dance productions, Hans Van den Broeck has also created film projects. He directed several semi-fiction videos, such as: ‘Eyes on the back’ (1998), ‘Ways of watching’ (1998), ‘Odeur de Sainteté’ (2003), ‘Alivetoo’ (2008) and ‘Homeland’ (2011). ‘Our Circumscribed Days’ (2000) a rhythmical portrait on Moscow, won the ‘Prix du Jury’ at the ‘Entrainements # 4’ festival in Paris in 2003.As a response to the need and interest in workshops, Hans Van den Broeck has turned his workshops into an artistic activity, with the concept of ‘workshows’: rather than a pedagogically driven approach, these workshops focus on collaborative constructions and exploratory processes. The workshops usually work towards a public showing, in a professional setting. ‘Settlement’ is a trilogy including ‘Nomads’ and ‘Homeland’ (2007-2011). The most recent ‘Settlement’ took place in Los Angeles in March-April 2014.
Soit company hosted also open improvisation evenings ‘Rosegarden’ 2013,2014 and 2017 in Brigittines theatre; (Brussels)
SOIT received support by the Flemish Authorities.