The heterogeneous group of dancers spans several generations, the youngest being 16 and the eldest 69, with significant differences between them in terms of track record and technical background. In any attempt will end in crushed bodies and shattered bones, they seek their own voice within the dance and beyond, looking for an idiom that fits them like a glove. One by one they claim their place on stage, without cutting off the others for all that. A horizontal exercise in giving each other the necessary space, while being careful not to steal the limelight. any attempt will end in crushed bodies and shattered bones is a rich performance that does not hesitate to seek out the ecstatic. In times of extreme polarization, this group sets social dogmas aside to recognize and embrace a range of distinct identities. Being uninhibitedly themselves – in both life and art – with the stage as their ideological testing ground. They are supported by a soundtrack that consists of protest songs from different ages – from Henryk Górecki via Max Roach & Abbey Lincoln to Kae Tempest.
No upcoming shows
05.12.2024
Cité Musicale Metz - Arsenal
Metz (FR)
Derniere
12.05.2024
Teatro Español
Madrid (ES)
11.05.2024
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Madrid (ES)
10.05.2024
Teatro Español
Madrid (ES)
06.12.2023
Norrlandsoperan
Umeå (SE)
05.11.2023
National Theater Taipei
Taipei (TW)
04.11.2023
National Theater Taipei
Taipei (TW)
03.11.2023
National Theater Taipei
Taipei (TW)
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Les Gémeaux
Sceaux (FR)
16.05.2023
Les Gémeaux
Sceaux (FR)
13.05.2023
Théâtre de la Ville
Paris (FR)
‘Any attempt… […], Martens’ first for the main stage, is a dance performance you would like to send everyone to. Compelling, hopeful, moving. And relevant.’
– ★★★★★ Francine van der Wiel, NRC
‘Especially in the exuberant finale, with a sudden light switch and color change in the costumes, this pulsating power is very tangible. No wonder the audience in Avignon stood upright for minutes during the applause. This sizzling dance performance was well worth the wait.’
– ★★★★ Filip Tielens, De Standaard
‘By the end of Any attempt will end in crushed bodies and shattered bones, all the dancers have their own unique outfits, personal space and individual movement material, while at the same time the vitality and togetherness splashes from the stage. […] Focused, compelling and convincing. […] We see it and become delighted.’
– Jacq. Algra, Het Parool
‘Jan Martens has put seventeen dancers on stage. One-headed like a corps de ballet, alarming like a docile herd. Incredibly diverse in appearance and inclinations, repetitive until it drives you crazy.’
– Bas Blaasse, pzazz
‘any attempt will end in crushed bodies and shattered bones is overwhelming because of the way in which the power of a large ensemble, so common for dance, is combined with the individual gait of many dancers. […] A certain vulnerability emanates from the challenges Martens poses not only to his dancers, but also to himself. Everyone takes risks here, everyone is vulnerable. […] The dancers visibly enjoy that last part. The performance is also very clearly a tribute to them – to the people who dare to stick their heads and their legs out on the stage of the world.’
– Fransien van der Putt, Theaterkrant
CHOREOGRAPHY Jan Martens
DANCE Ty Boomershine, Truus Bronkhorst, Jim Buskens, Baptiste Cazaux, Zoë Chungong, Piet Defrancq, Naomi Gibson, Kimmy Ligtvoet, Cherish Menzo, Steven Michel, Gesine Moog, Dan Mussett, Wolf Overmeire, Tim Persent, Courtney May Robertson, Laura Vanborm and Loeka Willems.
UNDER STUDY PROGRAMS Pierre Bastin, Georgia Boddez, Wannes Sabatus and Zora Westbroek
ARTISTIC ASSISTANCE Anne-Lise Brevers
LIGHTING DESIGN Jan Fedinger
COSTUME DESIGN Cédric Charlier
ASSISTANCE COSTUME DESIGN Alexandra Sebbag and Thibault Kuhn
OUTSIDE EYE Vanrunxt, Renée Copraij, Rudi Meulemans and Siska Baeck
TECHNIQUE Michel Spang and Valentijn Weyn / Bennert Vancottem
PRODUCTION GRIP
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH Dance On Ensemble.
INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION A Propic / Line Rousseau and Marion Gauvent.
CO-PRODUCTION deSingel international art campus (Antwerp, BE), Theater Freiburg (DE), Sadler’s Wells (London, UK), Julidans (Amsterdam, NL), Festival d’Avignon (FR), Le Gymnase CDCN Roubaix Hauts-de-France ( FR), Norrlandsoperan (Umeå, SE), La Bâtie – Festival de Genève & l’ADC – Association pour la Danse Contemporaine Genève (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 et La Place de La Danse – CDCN Toulouse Occitanie) and Perpodium.
WITH THE SUPPORT OF De Grote Post (Oostende, BE), CCN d’Orléans in collaboration with Théâtre d’Orléans, Charleroi Danse (BE).
WITH THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF the Flemish Government, the City of Antwerp, the tax shelter of the Belgian Federal Government and Cronos Invest
