Cracking the shell of dance — Jade van den Hout

THE ORIGIN OF THE MOTIVATION TO DANCE

We dance in the club, at family parties, in the kitchen, in the theatre, at ceremonies and rituals. It is a universal human element. As a maker, Jade is curious about the dancing which is carried by joy, and what kind of rhythm does that have?

This research unfolded through three periods of 24-hour exploration.
In the first, Jade spent 24 hours alone in the studio, returning to the question: what makes her dance? The second phase invited 24 people — family, neighbours and strangers — into one-on-one dance encounters with Jade. Together they explored questions such as: What makes us dance? How do we dance for ourselves, for others, and together? In the final 24 hours, Jade returned to the studio to gather these experiences and shape them into an interactive performance: a living collection of dance stories, memories and meanings.

Because dance speaks through the body and sensory experience, its meanings continue to shift and grow. Through this ongoing research, Jade develops seasonal projects that invite participation and celebrate the joy and connective power of dance.