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| Compagnie XY | |
|---|---|
| Name | Compagnie XY |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Founder | Frédéric Flamand |
| Location | Brussels, Belgium |
| Artistic director | Thierry De Mey |
| Genre | contemporary dance, acrobatics, circus |
Compagnie XY
Compagnie XY is a Brussels-based contemporary dance company known for integrating acrobatics, circus techniques, and contemporary choreography. The company has been associated with major European venues and festivals including the Théâtre de la Ville, La Scala, and Festival d'Avignon, performing alongside ensembles such as Batsheva Dance Company, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui Company, and institutions like Schaubühne and Royal Opera House. Its practitioners have trained at institutions like École nationale de cirque de Montréal, P.A.R.T.S., and Central School of Speech and Drama.
Compagnie XY emerged in the early 1990s amid a European surge of contemporary dance collectives including Rosas, DV8 Physical Theatre, and Hofesh Shechter Company. Early influences included choreographers and directors such as Pina Bausch, Merce Cunningham, William Forsythe, and Trisha Brown, and the company entered repertory circuits alongside companies like Ballet Revolución and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens. Its trajectory paralleled developments at venues like La Fenice, Opéra Bastille, and festivals such as Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Venice Biennale. Over the years, the company collaborated with producers from Sadler's Wells, Théâtre du Châtelet, and Münchner Kammerspiele, while touring programs were presented in cities including New York City, Berlin, Tokyo, Moscow, and Beijing.
The company’s aesthetic draws on techniques from cirque nouveau traditions, acrobatics used by companies like Cirque du Soleil, and somatic practices associated with Alexander Technique and Feldenkrais Method. Choreographic sources reference the experimental vocabularies of Maurice Béjart, Alwin Nikolais, Twyla Tharp, and José Limón, with production design sensibilities echoing collaborations seen at Théâtre de la Ville and La Monnaie. Music for works has been composed or arranged by artists connected to Philip Glass, Steve Reich, Arvo Pärt, John Cage, and contemporary composers active at IRCAM and Björk-adjacent projects.
Notable productions have been staged in repertory lineups alongside works by Angelin Preljocaj, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Maguy Marin, and Akram Khan. Signature pieces have toured festival circuits such as Festival d'Avignon, Montpellier Danse, Glastonbury Festival, and Biennale de la Danse Lyon. Productions have been showcased at institutions including Palais Garnier, Théâtre du Rond-Point, and The Barbican Centre, and often feature scenography practices reminiscent of Robert Wilson and lighting designers associated with Ken Tabachnik-type productions.
The company’s ensemble has included performers trained at conservatories such as Conservatoire de Paris, Juilliard School, Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and Victorian College of the Arts. Leadership has worked with dramaturgs and directors active at Comédie-Française, Royal Court Theatre, and Comédie de Caen. Guest collaborators have included choreographers and artists affiliated with Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, Sasha Waltz, Wayne McGregor, Shobana Jeyasingh, and Pina Bausch-associated performers.
Compagnie XY has undertaken commissions from cultural institutions such as Fonds National de la Culture, Conseil des Arts, City of Brussels, and festivals including Festival d'Automne à Paris and Lincoln Center Festival. Cross-disciplinary collaborations have connected the company with composers from Ensemble Modern, visual artists associated with Anish Kapoor-scale exhibitions, and filmmakers active at Berlinale and Cannes Film Festival. Co-productions have been realized with houses like Opéra de Lyon, Teatro Real, and broadcasters such as Arte and BBC Arts.
International tours have placed the company on stages from Sydney Opera House to Teatro Colón, with audience receptions noted at festivals including Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, Tanz im August, Salzburg Festival, and Spoleto Festival USA. Reviews in outlets linked to cultural networks such as Le Monde, The Guardian, The New York Times, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, and El País have compared its work to productions by Compagnie Käfig, Compagnie Marie Chouinard, and Martha Graham Dance Company programs. Residencies were held at centers like The Yard, DanceBase, and BAM.
The company has received grants and awards from bodies comparable to European Cultural Foundation, Prince Claus Fund, and national prizes akin to Prix de la Critique and honors presented at events such as Laurence Olivier Awards-adjacent ceremonies and regional dance awards including Zwanze Prize-type recognitions. Its productions have been programmed in curated series at venues like Tate Modern, Musée du Louvre cultural programs, and biennales such as Biennale de Venise and Brussels Art Week.
Category:Contemporary dance companies