Wallonie-Bruxelles Théâtre Danse

Wallonie-Bruxelles Théâtre Danse
Name	Wallonie-Bruxelles Théâtre Danse
City	Brussels
Country	Belgium
Established	1984
Type	National public company

Wallonie-Bruxelles Théâtre Danse is a Belgian public institution charged with supporting and promoting French-language performing arts in the Brussels and Wallonia regions, with a focus on theatre and contemporary dance. It operates within a cultural ecosystem that includes institutions such as the Royal Theatre of La Monnaie, Théâtre Royal du Parc, Théâtre National Wallonie-Bruxelles, and the Kaaitheater, while engaging artists connected to the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, the Institut du Patrimoine, and international festivals like Avignon Festival and Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The institution interfaces with municipalities such as Anderlecht, Ixelles, Charleroi, Liège, Namur, and with funding bodies including the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles administration and the European Commission cultural programmes.

History

The organization's lineage traces to postwar cultural policies shaped by figures like André Malraux, Maurice Béjart, and Michel de Ghelderode and institutions such as the Théâtre Royal de Mons, Théâtre National de Bruxelles, and the Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles, aligning with European movements exemplified by Biennale de Venise, Festival d’Avignon, and Holland Festival. Early collaborations involved companies led by directors such as Ariane Mnouchkine, Peter Brook, Patrice Chéreau, and Luc Bondy, and choreographers like Pina Bausch, Merce Cunningham, and William Forsythe, connecting to venues including Théâtre de la Ville, Schaubühne, and Sadler's Wells. Administrative evolution paralleled reforms influenced by UNESCO cultural policies, the Council of Europe, and the Comité des Ministres, while legal frameworks referenced Belgian institutions such as the Court of Audit and the Parliament of the French Community. Over decades the institution worked with artists from the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, École de la comédie de Saint-Étienne, Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln, and the Institut del Teatre in Barcelona, participating in networks with IETM, ISPA, and CIRQUE DU MONDE initiatives.

Organization and Mission

The organization is governed by boards that include representatives from the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, the City of Brussels, the Province of Hainaut, and cultural councils related to Wallonia and Brussels, interacting with agencies like Wallimage, Belgian Creative Europe Desks, and the Centre for Fine Arts (BOZAR). Leadership profiles have featured administrators with ties to Maison de la Culture d'Amiens, Théâtre de Liège, Théâtre de la Ville, and Théâtre de la Bastille, and artistic advisors connected to institutions such as the Royal Opera House, Théâtre du Châtelet, and Opera Vlaanderen. Its mission intersects with policy instruments from the European Commission, the Ministère de la Culture, and UNESCO recommendations, coordinating with touring support bodies like Pro Helvetia, Goethe-Institut, British Council, and Institut Français to promote exchanges with venues including Théâtre des Abbesses, Volksbühne, and Komische Oper. The mandate emphasizes commissioning work from creators associated with Pina Bausch Tanztheater Wuppertal, Théâtre du Soleil, and Nederlands Dans Theater while fostering ties to festivals like Ruhrtriennale, Montpellier Danse, and Tanz im August.

Programming and Activities

Programming spans season curation, commissioning, co-production, and touring, often presented in partnership with Théâtre de Namur, Théâtre de Liège, Opera Royal de Wallonie, Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie, and Théâtre Royal du Parc, and promoted through festivals such as Festival d'Avignon, Vienna Festival, and Biennale de Lyon. Activities include residencies supported with institutions like Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles, École Jacques Lecoq, Institut del Teatre, and Pôle culturel de Charleroi, as well as co-productions with companies connected to Angers-Nantes Opéra, La Comédie-Française, and Théâtre des Célestins. The institution commissions choreographers and directors who have worked with Nederlands Dans Theater, Sasha Waltz & Guests, Compagnie Käfig, Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, Les Ballets C de la B, and Jan Fabre, enabling co-commissions with Sadler's Wells, Berliner Festspiele, and Théâtre National de Bretagne. It also facilitates international touring through partners such as Théâtre du Rond-Point, Théâtre du Châtelet, Teatro Real, Gran Teatre del Liceu, and Théâtre de la Ville in Paris.

Notable Productions and Collaborations

Notable productions and collaborations have included premieres and revivals by artists linked to names such as Ariane Mnouchkine, Peter Brook, Patrice Chéreau, Luc Bondy, Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, Vincent Malstaf, Guy Cassiers, Alain Platel, Thomas Ostermeier, Ivo van Hove, and Romeo Castellucci, and choreographers associated with Pina Bausch, William Forsythe, Merce Cunningham, and William Kentridge. Co-productions have been staged with Théâtre de la Ville, La Bâtie–Festival de Genève, Festival d'Avignon, Ruhrtriennale, Holland Festival, and Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and have toured to venues including Sadler's Wells, Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie, Opéra Comique, Staatsoper Unter den Linden, and Teatro dell'Opera di Roma. Collaborations extended to emerging companies from École des Beaux-Arts de Bruxelles, Conservatoire de Paris, Bologna Conservatory, and Hochschule für Schauspielkunst "Ernst Busch", and partnered with arts organizations like BOZAR, KAAP, Kunstenfestivaldesarts, and Centre Pompidou.

Education, Outreach, and Residencies

Education and outreach initiatives partner with Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles, École de la Comédie de Saint-Étienne, Institut del Teatre, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and the Accademia Nazionale d'Arte Drammatica Silvio D'Amico, offering workshops, masterclasses, and youth programming linked to festivals such as Festival d'Avignon, Kunstenfestivaldesarts, and La Bâtie–Festival de Genève. Residencies have hosted artists connected to Pina Bausch Tanztheater Wuppertal, Nederlands Dans Theater, Les Ballets C de la B, Sasha Waltz & Guests, and Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, while research collaborations involved Université Libre de Bruxelles, KU Leuven, Université catholique de Louvain, and Middlesex University. Outreach projects engaged communities in Anderlecht, Schaerbeek, Saint-Josse-ten-Noode, Charleroi, Liège, and Namur, in partnership with social arts organizations like Théâtre de la Ricamarie, Le Forum de Liège, and Maison Folie, and with funders such as Fondation Roi Baudouin and BNP Paribas Fortis Foundation.

Funding and Governance

Funding streams combine grants from the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, support from the City of Brussels, provincial contributions (Hainaut, Liège, Namur), and co-funding through European programmes including Creative Europe and Erasmus+. Governance involves boards and auditors aligned with Belgian legal entities such as the Service public de Wallonie, the Belgian Chamber of Representatives cultural committees, and administrative courts including the Court of Audit, with strategic partnerships involving Pro Helvetia, Institut Français, Goethe-Institut, Flemish Government cultural agencies, and the British Council. Financial oversight connects to banking partners and cultural philanthropy from entities like Fondation Roi Baudouin, ING Belgium, and Belfius, while artistic governance liaises with networks such as IETM, ENCATC, and the European Festivals Association.

Category:Theatre in Belgium Category:Performing arts organizations