Alexander Vantournhout BE

Alexander Vantournhout (Brussels-based, 1989) studied contemporary dance at P.A.R.T.S. (Performing Arts and Research Training Studios), the school founded by Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker, and single wheel, juggling and dance acrobatics at ESAC (Ecole Supérieure des Arts du Cirque).

Alexander's movement language is influenced by different pedagogical processes and by working across several fields within the arts. Two constants within his artist pursuits are a search for creative and kinetic potential in physicality and an investigation into many aspects of the relationship between performer and object

2014 marks the premiere of his first piece, CAPRICES, a choreographic solo to the music of Sciarrino. ANECKXANDER (2015), a second solo, co-created with Bauke Lievens, won Circus Next award in 2014, the Public and Young Theatre Prize at Theater Aan Zee (Ostend, 2015), was selected for the Aerowaves Network, and was selected for Het Theaterfestival 2016, the prize for the most remarkable Belgian performances.

His first duet RAPHAËL (2017) was co-created with Bauke Lievens in the framework of the research project Between being and imagining: towards a methodology for artistic research in contemporary circus, supported by the research fund of HoGent/KASK School of Arts, Ghent (BE).

In 2018 Alexanders premieres with LA ROSE EN CÉRAMIQUE, a movement solo accompanying the theatrical solo of Scali Delpeyrat at Festival d’Avignon. Soon after follows his first ensemble piece for 4 men, RED HAIRED MEN, which toured around Europe for more than 2 years.

In SCREWS, created in 2019, Vantournhout guides the audience, together with 5 dancer-acrobats, along a route of reverberating micro performances, from short solos and duets to pointed group choreographies. With THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE (2020), Alexander returns to the format of a duet. It’s his first true duet and builds upon the concept of ANECKXANDER (2015) to a certain extent. The body is reintroduced in a highly pure form and the performance delves into the creative, kinetic potential of physical limitations, a theme that is reflected throughout Vantournhout’s complete oeuvre.

Alexander Vantournhout is artist-in-residence in Arts Centre Voo?uit in Ghent and associated artist of le CENTQUATRE Paris and Cirque-théâtre Elbeuf. He is cultural ambassador of the city of Roeselare and is also supported by Fondation BNP Paribas for the development of his projects.