not standing - Alexander Vantournhout

not standing was founded by choreographer Alexander Vantournhout.

Alexander Vantournhout (Brussels, 1989) studied cyr wheel and juggling at ESAC (Ecole Supérieure des Arts du Cirque) and contemporary dance at P.A.R.T.S. (Performing Arts Research and Training Studios) in Brussels.

Alexander Vantournhout's physical language bears the influences of a varied education and working circumstances. However, it is marked by two constants: his search for the creative and kinetic potential in physical limitation, and the relationship or boundary between performer and object.

2014 marks the premiere of his first piece, 'Caprices', a choreographic solo set to the music of Sciarrino. 'Aneckxander' (2015), a second solo, co-created with Bauke Lievens, wins the CircusNext Prize, as well as the Young Theatre Prize and the Audience Prize at Theater Aan Zee (Ostend, 2015) and the Aerowaves network. His first duet 'Raphaël' (2017) is also co-created with Bauke Lievens.

In 2018, Alexander Vantournhout creates 'La Rose en Céramique', a movement solo that accompanies Scali Delpeyrat's theatrical solo at the Avignon Festival. His first piece for four men, 'Red Haired Men', follows shortly after. In 'Screws', created in 2019, Alexander Vantournhout guides the audience, accompanied by 4 dancer-acrobats, on a journey of reverberating micro-performances, ranging from short solos and duets to group choreographies.

With 'Through the Grapevine' (2020), Alexander Vantournhout returns to the duet format. This is his first real duet and is to some extent inspired by the concept of 'Aneckxander' (2015). The body is reintroduced in a very pure way and the performance dives into the creative and kinetic potential of physical limitations, a theme that is reflected throughout Alexander Vantournhout's work. In 'Contre-jour' (2021) Alexander Vantournhout takes on the role of choreographer for the first time and gives the floor to a group of five performers from various backgrounds: dance, musical, theatre, circus, etc. In 2022 Alexander Vantournhout returns solo on stage with 'VanThorhout'. 'Foreshadow', a creation with 8 performers, will premiere in the summer of 2023 at Julidans in Amsterdam. 

'Aneckxander' (2016) as well as 'Screws' (2020) and 'Through the Grapevine' (2021) were selected for the TheaterFestival, the prize for the most outstanding Belgian performances.

Alexander Vantournhout has created two dance films, 'Screws & Stones' (2019) and Snakearms (2021). The latter was selected for the TheaterFestival, NY Segal Film Festival and Cinedans Festival. 

Alexander Vantournhout is artist-in-residence at the Kunstencentrum VIERNULVIER in Ghent, associate artist at CENTQUATRE in Paris and cultural ambassador of the city of Roeselare. Alexander Vantournhout is supported by the BNP Paribas Foundation for the development of his projects.

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image © Bart Grietens