“Slowly but surely, the small, staccato movements become more pronounced.  And just as a broken clock tells the correct time twice a day, sometimes the seemingly erratic movements come together into something resembling a consistent choreography.

It’s a fascinating scene, and a good platform for Ben-Tal’s singular dance moves: graceful yet sharp, unpredictable yet coherent.

.” Bregtje Schudel, 2019, movementexposed.com

“The movements are initially investigative and discovering, later they become more exuberant […] but never aimed at virtuosity. They are given a headstrong, playful quality: soft and elegant, sometimes pedantic. This gives the strict perception of time in 60 a humorous counterbalance. Add the traditional way in which the choreographer puts his dancers in the space and you get a tasteful, versatile representation of a thinking dancer.” Dick van Teylingen, 2019, Theaterkrant.nl

Photography: Alwin Poiana

On Tuesday July 2nd, our new piece 60 will have its première as part of the International festival Julidans in Amsterdam. For 60 we started a unique collaboration with the dance-company ICK Amsterdam. Together we will take the audience on a meditative journey that reflects on the social constructs and personal experience of time.

“Something to look forward to in Julidans: the 60-minute version of 30. About ticking time. ”Volkskrant, 2018

60 is the result of a long-term study of the concept of time that previously resulted in the short piece 30 and Seconds (2019), reviewed as: “An impressive dance installation. What Ben-Tal does with one’s perception of space, time and human interaction is extremely fascinating.” … Trouw * * * *

Curious?
The ticketsales of Julidans starts on April 18th.
Make sure to check it out. More info and tickets here.

In the recent Cadance Festival in The Hague we presented our new performance-installation Seconds. It’s an intimate work for an audience of only 20, where the public takes an active part in determining the experience. Although confronting, the piece was extremely well received and people seemed to embrace the questions it raised in them. For that we couldn’t be more happy. The press also responded well to Seconds, with positive reviews coming from Trouw, NRC, Theaterkrant and Artstalk Magazine (English). We hope to be able to share this work with you again soon.

“An impressive dance installation. What Ben-Tal does with one’s perception of space, time and human interaction is extremely fascinating.” … Trouw * * * *

We’d like to thank everyone that joined us for ‘Just Once’ in Korzo Theater on Friday April 13th. For those of you who could not make it, here are some words and images in order to get an impression. It was a very special event for us: literally a once in a life time moment. A confronting and exciting experience and a joy to share new dance, texts and music with all of you. We revisited the piece Ziggurat (originally from 2007), showed a sneak preview of our new project ’60′ and played brand new songs of Noblesse. Sharing this work with you inspired us to continue working and we are looking forward to getting back to creating. Keep an eye out for us! For now, thank you all for your support, attention and inspiration!

Podium Dans is NPO Cultura’s weekly dance-program. The program features different choreographers and artistic directors of prominent dance-companies from the Netherlands.  In the week of November 6th, Podium Dans was fully dedicated to Amos’ work and to OFFprojects. Several weeks ago the camera crew visited a rehearsal of Howl prior to the performance in Theatre Ins Blau in Leiden. They did an interview in order to shed light on our various productions, inspirations and the unique working method we utilize as a collective. You can watch the episode here.

For the newspaper De Gelderlander, Bianca Hendriks interviewed Amos about our performance HOWL. Read the full interview here. (Dutch only)

On August 29 to 31st, we performed Howl at the Zeeland Nazomerfestival in Middelburg. We were invited to present the piece in the building of Waterschap Scheldestromen. The huge windows gave us a beautiful back drop that offered us and the audience a direct view over the canal and the  city. We thank everyone for three amazing sharings. And thank those who left us with their great feedback after the performance and online.

“I am still speechless after seeing HOWL at Zeeland Nazomerfestival. We were seated on stage. And that was awesome. We did not only see the performers from closeby but we even felt the air moving when they passed by. And then the beautiful music by Spinvis… I will not give away the rest. Go see for yourself when you have the chance!” – audience member about Howl at Zeeland Nazomerfestival

In October-December we continue our Dutch theatre-tour. Make sure you order your tickets in time. Check out the tourdates in the agenda.

Amos is one of the seven choreographers that were invited by Emio Greco and Pieter C. Scholten to join their project: 7even. Amos will therefor travel to France to work together with dancers from the Ballet National de Marseille and ICK. They will create a new piece highlighting the state of the body.

7even
7even comprises 7 new works, each lasting 7 minutes, composed by 7 artists and featuring 7 dancers from the Ballet National de Marseille and ICK, based on Emio Greco and Pieter C. Scholten’s artistic manifesto The 7 Necessities, in collaboration with the Festival de Marseille.

An intense new work centred on the body and an innovative project showcasing a new generation of choreographers who have emerged from the international contemporary scene. Coming from a variety of cultures and disciplines, Amos Ben-Tal, Ayelen Parolin, Ula Sickle, Nacera Belaza, Faustin Linyekula, Eric Minh Cuong Castaing and Joeri Dubbe will offer their version of this manifesto centred on the body in their own language in order express their particular “necessities”.

Tourdates
Fr 23 June 2017 Marseille (FR) | 20.30u
Festival de Marseille (world première)

Sat 24 June 2017 Marseille (FR) | 20.30u
Festival de Marseille

Sun 25 June 2017 Marseille (FR) | 20.30u
Festival de Marseille

Wed 5 July 2017 Amsterdam (NL) | 21.00u
Julidans Amsterdam, Stadsschouwburg

Thur 6 July 2017 Amsterdam (NL) | 21.00u
Julidans Amsterdam, Stadsschouwburg

Wed 20 Sep 2017 Rotterdam (NL)
Rotterdamse Schouwburg

Sat 23 Sep 2017 Amsterdam (NL)
Theater De Meervaart (tijdens festival ICKfest)

Thur 28 Sep 2017 Heerlen (NL) |20.30u
Parkstad Limburg Theaters

Fr 29 Sep 2017 Breda (NL)
Chassé Theater

Wed 11 Oct Utrecht (NL) | 20.00u
Stadsschouwburg

Fr 13 Oct Hoofddorp (NL) | 20.15u
Theater De Meerse

Wed 18 Oct Delft (NL) | 20.15u
Theater De Veste

Fr 20 Oct Leeuwarden (NL)
Stadsschouwburg de Harmonie

Wed 1 Nov 2017 Tilburg (NL) | 20.15u
Theaters Tilburg

Sat 4 Nov Groningen (NL)
Theater de Oosterpoort

Tues 14 Nov 2017 Haarlem (NL)
Toneelschuur Haarlem

Tickets & info

Last Saturday April 8th, we performed Howl at the music- and arts festival Motel Mozaique 2017 in Rotterdam. In a special setting in the foyer of the Rotterdamse Schouwburg, with an unexpected, massive crowd all around us, we shared stories, music, dance, thoughts and laughter. We had a great time! Thanks to everyone who was there! See you around for the theatretour.

Picture: Arie Kievit

Here are some quotes we found about the event:

“Motel Mozaïque distinguished itself by its multidisciplinary nature. On your way to a rockconcert you could dwell with Spinvis who held an improvised “talkshow” in the foyer of the Rotterdamse Schouwburg. in which dancers translated words and songs into dance.”  Jan Vollaard, NRC, 2017 Read the full article here (Dutch only)

“Besides concerts, the program existed of theater, dance and performance art, framed by art installations at various locations in the city. This way it was possible that you, while on your way, rushing for a concert in the Arminiuskerk, were suprised and mesmerized by the impressive dancers of choreographer Amos Ben-Tal, who, together with Spinvis, performed Howl in the foyer of the Rotterdamse Schouwburg.” Joris Belgers, TROUW, 2017 Read the full article here (Dutch only)