Cracking the Shell of Dance

Cracking the Shell of Dance is a project by Jade van den Hout that stems from her search for the origins of the motivation to dance. We dance in the club, at family parties, in the kitchen, in the theater, at ceremonies and rituals. Over the last few months, Jade has been hitting the studio with two fellow dancers: Alison Duarte and Chilton Gamilo. Together they worked towards an interactive dance performance.

During Cracking the Shell of Dance, you are invited to use movement to reflect on your own motivation to dance and the tools that help you to physically intensify, increase and understand this. For some it is enough to close their eyes, others need their favorite song or some space for themselves. Still others leave their heads and thoughts on the floor, so to speak, in order to let loose without obstacles.

For everyone; all ages, who love dance or are curious about dance, are cordially invited. No specific experience is required, we mainly work with improvisation in which everyone can shape the dance based on their own body language.

As one of the The100Hands' dancers, Jade van den Hout is involved for the longest period of time (since 2014). She has developed herself from intern to a co-creating dancer and young maker. Her process of creation has a natural development through her cyclistic way of working, in which she shapes an overarching research of several projects. Cracking the Shell of Dance is her second cyclistic project, in which she continues a search in which she embarks on a search for the origins of the motivation to dance.

There is something universal about dance. People dance to overcome fear, to stay fit, to celebrate, to honor, to heal, to be amazed or comforted. Some people dance naturally, others find it somewhere in their little toe at special moments. Cracking the Shell of Dance is a form of continuous research in which there is room for everyone's body, as long as there is curiosity. Because dance speaks from the body and our sensory experiences, the possible meanings are continually supplemented by continuing to move. With the aim to continue to celebrate the pleasure and impact of dance and the connection with ourselves and our environment by bringing people together.

In 2021, Jade started her first research. She went to the studio with 24 people; family, neighbors and strangers - for an hour-long 1-on-1 dance meeting. The questions she asked: What makes us dance? How do we dance for ourselves, for others and together? The result of this process was presented in an interactive dance evening.

The process was continued in 2023 in collaboration with Alison Duarte (one of The100Hands dancers) and Chilton Galimo. They share the drive to convey dance and physical expression to people as pure and powerful as possible and to awaken it in people. As a team they investigate what it means to create a dance space together for and with each other and others. This process leads to the interactive dance evening/performance A dance to touch the heart; an encounter with fascination for dance, a journey in motion in which different dance stories and encounters are shared and where the audience is invited to participate, watch and experience.

About Jade, Alison and Chilton 

Jade van den Hout (30) is active as a performer, teacher and starting maker. Alternating between different activities within the field of art and movement, but always returning to dance and a curiosity about interaction and being human.

Alison Duarte (30) is a Portuguese dancer with a background in hip hop and contemporary. He continually finds new connections that continue to enrich his vision and experience with dance. Since 2022, Alison has been active at The100Hands as a performer for the performance Out of the Box.

Chilton Galimo (31) has been active in the club & street styles dance world for over 14 years. He has participated in various battles and competitions and has also taught at various places in the Netherlands. He is currently most active in the Tilburg area with the aim of giving the Hip Hop dance community more visibility and opportunities.

Credits

Dance: Alison Duarte, Chilton Galimo, Jade van den Hout

The overarching project Cracking the Shell of Dance is made possible by 'het Makersfonds'.
A dance to touch the heart is a The100Hands and Jade van den Hout production and made possible by DansBrabant.

The edition A dance to touch the heart is a part of the new The100Hands’ program for young talent in which Jade takes part as the first participant.

Photography: Cloakture/William van der Voort

Shows

For future shows and workshops, please go to our AGENDA.

2023
17/02/2023 Stokvishallen, Breda (NL)
02/02/2024 DansBrabant, Tilburg (NL)
14/12/2023 Podium Bloos, Breda (NL)