From 13 to 16 September, University College Utrecht (NL) will host the launch of a research project on diversity in higher dance education. PARTS (Brussels), La Manufacture (Lausanne, CH), Stockholm University of the Arts (SE) and University College Utrecht will collaborate intensively for two years on the question of how, as internationally oriented institutions, dance schools deal with diversity and the fight against discrimination within their structures.

On Monday September 4th, we opened the new academic year 2023-24 for 39 Training-students into their 2nd year of the Bachelor Program, and for 12 STUDIOS-students into their 2nd and graduating year of the Master program.For the first semester, we also welcome 1 Erasmus+ exchange student into the Training program, coming from the Stockholm University of the Arts.

SummerSchool is approaching fast and we're all set for kickoff on Monday July 10!Only 1 more week to go until we open our doors for dancelovers from all over the world, for five weeks of body studies, technique classes, project workshops, Rosas repertoire and more.Tickets are flying out the door, so hurry!The elementary program is completely sold out for week 1-3- 4- 5, but you can still register for week 2 and for the EXTRA morning classes with a super discount.

We made it ! The first year of the BA Training program and the MA STUDIOS program has come to end with a whole series of internal and public performances in Brussels and Ostend.On September 4th, we will restart with the second year of both Training and STUDIOS.For the STUDIOS students this is also their graduation year which they will conclude in 2024 with a Brussels Festival. But that’s for later.

To close the academic year, the students of the 1st year BA Training program performed at the 8th edition of the biannual Dance Festival DANSAND! in Ostend.This year the Training students worked with guest choreographers Benjamin Vandewalle (𝘉𝘪𝘳𝘥𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 4𝘹4) and Ingri Fiksdal (𝘚𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘺 𝘚𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘮).Once again, Tine Declerck captured the magic!A big thanks to everyone involved in this amazing weekend, what a blast, what a festival!

To close the academic year, we will dance with the Training students into the Summer at the biannual Dance Festival DANSAND! in Ostend.P.A.R.T.S. is a regular and welcome guest at Dansand!, a festival for dance and movement.In the past there have been numerous creations with guest choreographers, site-specific performances and graduation works.This year, the Training students work with guest choreographers Benjamin Vandewalle (Birdwatching 4x4) and Ingri Fiksdal (Swarmy Swarm).

On popular demand, we have decided to launch extra packages for morning classes, with a super discount!This means that you can register for the morning classes only, without taking the afternoon workshops. This goes for the elementary and intermediate levels, all weeks.The morning program includes a body studies class (yoga, Pilates, Mindfulness) and a contemporary or ballet technique class.

On June 27, 28 and 29, students of the MA program STUDIOS present three evenings of work-in-progress. They share research that they have developed through the first year of their two-year trajectory. These are all works-in-progress, testing ideas and methods about bodies, movements, stories and identities.The sharings start at 19h. The program is different for the 3 evenings.Free entry but reservation is recommended.

The academic year is running towards its end, with still many activities going on until the beginning of July.It is with great enthusiasm that the students of the 1st year Bachelor Training program invite you to the very last PARTS@WORK of this academic year.PARTS@WORK#6 takes place on Sunday June 18th, 2023 at 3pm and consists of several pieces - all personal work - of Generation XIV.Free entrance – no reservation is needed

OPEN CALLS FOR RESIDENCIES AND THEMATIC LABS (DEADLINE MAY 31)With SummerResidencies 2023 P.A.R.T.S. and Rosas aim to meet a real need for workspace and creative meeting places in Brussels' vibrant arts scene. Besides free studio space with coaching in our professionally equipped dance studios, we also offer thematic labs for young makers & professionals from 18 years.

It is with great pleasure that we invite you for the public showing of the “Trios & duets with live music’ performed by the first year bachelor Training students, in collaboration with Manama students of Kask and Master students of the Brussels Conservatory, on Sunday May 21, 2023.

An intensive one-week workshop of artistic practice for the first year Training studentsDuring an X-Week, the normal operation modus of the school is suspended. Invited artists can work a whole week with the students, in or outside school. We ask the artists to unveil their way of approaching art towards the students. For April's artistic practice, PARTS invited partner organizations Labolobo, Platform K and the artist Mario Barrantes Espinoza.In the spotlight: STUBBORN BODIES / STUBBORN KNOWLEDGES, a workshop guided by Mario Barrantes Espinoza around migration experiences as worldbuilding tools.

An intensive one-week workshop of artistic practice for the first year Training studentsDuring an X-Week, the normal operation modus of the school is suspended. Invited artists can work a whole week with the students, in or outside school. We ask the artists to unveil their way of approaching art towards the students. For April's artistic practice, PARTS invited partner organizations Labolobo, Platform K and the artist Mario Barrantes Espinoza.In the spotlight: the workshop with Platform-K, an inclusive dance company based in Ghent with a Brussels’ workspace at P.A.R.T.S.

An intensive one-week workshop of artistic practice for the first year Training studentsDuring an X-Week, the normal operation modus of the school is suspended. Invited artists can work a whole week with the students, in or outside school. We ask the artists to unveil their way of approaching art towards the students. For April's artistic practice, PARTS invited partner organizations Labolobo, Platform K and the artist Mario Barrantes Espinoza.In the spotlight: the group working with Labolobo.

It has been more than 4 years, so we are very excited to announce another Open House Day.On Sunday May 7, you are all warmly invited to come and take a look behind the scenes and get to know our school, students, teachers and staff members.

In March, the first year bachelor Training students followed a four-week intensive workshop on the Rosas repertory piece Drumming (1998), one of Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker’s most iconic choreographies, written to the eponymous, minimalistic percussion score by Steve Reich.

We are very excited to announce a brand new edition of our SUMMERPROGRAM for 2023.This year's edition re-hosts our well-known SummerSchool, revamps the SummerResidencies and introduces the SummerCommunity!SummerSchool 2023The registrations for SummerSchool 2023 are OPEN!

It is with great excitement that we invite you for the public showing of ‘Drumming (fragments)’ performed by the first year bachelor Training students in the Rosas Performance Space.During a four-week intensive workshop, the Training students have worked in 3 groups on the Rosas repertory ‘Drumming’, guided by Sue-Yeon Youn, Laura-Maria Poletti, Cynthia Loemij and Clinton Stringer. ‘

Next week, Alva Noë is teaching a seminar in the Master program STUDIOS at PARTS. On Tuesday evening March 28th at 19h, he will give a public talk at PARTS (studio 2): Perception as a relationship’.Free entrance - everybody welcome - no reservations

We are very excited to invite you for the public performance PARTS@WORK#3 on Sunday March 26th, 2023 at 3pm.PARTS@WORK#3 consists of several pieces - all personal work - both of the 1st year Bachelor Training students and of the 1st year STUDIOS students from the Master program. Free entrance – no reservation is needed

During the second semester, the first year bachelor Training students followed a 5-week theater workshop. The main goal of this theater workshop is not to turn dancers into actors, but to confront dancers with a performative situation in which their first medium is speech and not movement.This year, they worked in 6 groups, under the direction of Akram Assam, Eva Schram and Kuno Bakker.

During 5 weeks, the 12 students from the STUDIOS program at P.A.R.T.S. participated in an exchange project with 10 young African dancers-choreographers at Ecole des Sables, the school initiated by Germaine Acogny in Toubab Dialaw, Senegal and currently directed by Alesandra Seutin and Wesley Ruzibiza. This exchange program is organized for the 4th time since 2013.

We are very proud to share that graphic designer Paul Boudens received the Henry van de Velde Lifetime Achievement Award 2023.Paul Boudens has been a longtime partner of P.A.R.T.S (since 2005) for all our graphic design for the auditions, SummerSchool, Graduation works & tour, and much more. Paul was also responsible for the graphic design of our twentieth anniversary book “20 years – 50 portraits”.

We are very excited to invite you for the public performance PARTS@WORK#2 on Sunday January 29th, 2023.PARTS@WORK#2 consists of several pieces - all personal work - of the 1st year students from the Bachelor program ‘Training’.Free entrance – no reservation is neededThere is a limited capacity, we advise you to come in time.Doors open at 2h30pm - showing starts at 3pm sharpEnd foreseen around 4:30pm

The first year bachelor Training students concluded 2022 with an intensive one-week -workshop: ‘Dancing Mania’ guided by Mette Ingvartsen.This workshop is the first step toward the performance "Choreomania”, a performance the students will create under the direction of Mette Ingvartsen, resulting in public showings in their third and final year.

Last week the students of the 7th year Dance of Kunsthumaniora Brussels (KHB) were in residency at PARTS.In September 2021, Kunsthumaniora Brussels expanded its educational program and launched a 7th year of contemporary dance. This full time bridge year allows KHB students to be better prepared to audition for bachelor programs in dance throughout Europe, such as the Training program at PARTS.

Are you a young aspiring dancer/choreographer ?P.A.R.T.S. organizes a number of activities to get familiar with the school and the program.During the winter of 2023, you can actively take part in two workshops with a variety of classes: contemporary dance classes, composition, yoga, repertoire, theory etc. For the WINTER WORKSHOPS you have to be minimum 16 and maximum 25 years old.Capacities are limited, so it is mandatory to register.

And then it got legs: Notes on dance dramaturgy" Book launch by Jeroen Peeters, with Jonathan Burrows and Sara ManenteFree entrance - no reservations - 7pm - P.A.R.T.S.Drawing on his experience in the field of contemporary dance, in "And then it got legs: Notes on dance dramaturgy", Jeroen Peeters discusses principles, methods and practices that contribute to an understanding of dramaturgy as an experimental, collaborative practice and a material form of thinking.

Where is contemporary Dance? The public sphere and transnationalism.Free entrance - everybody welcome - no reservations.Next week, Dr Funmi Adewole is teaching a seminar in the STUDIOS program at PARTS. On Tuesday evening November 8th at 19h, she will give a public lecture at PARTS.

From January 9 until February 10, 2023, P.A.R.T.S. initiates an exchange project between a group of African dancers-choreographers and the PARTS STUDIOS participants at Ecole des Sables, the International Centre for Traditional & Contemporary Dances of Africa in Toubab Dialaw, Senegal.Ecole des Sables was founded by dancer and choreographer Germaine Acogny, and is since 2021 under the artistic direction of Alesandra Seutin and Wesley Ruzibiza.How to apply?

Last summer, PARTS organized a workshop in the fields - mowing with the scythe, driving farm horses, dancing, cooking - guided by Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, Cassiel Gaube (dance), Corentin Hannon and Eva Fillet (from Cordeva / horses) and Kevin Lambeets (from Zeis & Bijl / scythes).

It is with great pleasure that we invite you for the very first public showing of Generation XIV: “Passing through” by David Zambrano on Thursday October 27th at 18h in RPS.During a three-week intensive workshop, the students of the 1st year Training cycle have worked with David Zambrano on 'Passing Through', an improvisation structure exploring the infinite possibilities of moving within a group in a set timespace.

Investigating mangrove ecosystems through biology, art and history.Free entrance - everybody welcome - no reservations.Next week, researcher Farid Dadough-Guebas is teaching a seminar in the Studios program at PARTS. On Tuesday evening October 11th at 19h, he will give a public lecture at PARTS.

Today the last three episodes of the podcast Generation XIII are launched and online.In july 2022, the 13th generation of bachelor students at P.A.R.T.S. has festively graduated from the training program and so this story is also finished. A remarkable journey captured in 5 portraits, 6 episodes and an epilogue.Episodes 5 and 6 are all about the graduation year 2021-22.With an epilogue, a final retrospective of the protagonists Eleni, Marlla, Renato and Zoé.Want to know more about it?

On September 5, PARTS started with a new generation of students!The students of Generation XIV started their 1st year of the Bachelor Training cycle 2022-25. They are 41, representing 18 different nationalities from four continents.On September 26, the 2-year Studios program will start for the second time with 12 participants from 12 different countries.Stay tuned to this website for news about our public activities!

The offices of PARTS will be closed for the Summer from July 21 until until August 8, 2022.Inquiries regarding SummerSchool or SummerStudios can be sent to summerschool@parts.be.Incoming students with urgent questions regarding visa etc. can write to training@parts.be.PARTS wishes you a great Summer!

We finally got there and how! After three eventful years, Generation XIII - "the resilient generation" - ​graduated last Sunday and was awarded for the very first time with a Professional Bachelor degree in Dance. The ceremony was warm & emotional with family & friends coming from all corners of the world, and with the supporting presence of the whole team of teachers, (ex-)staff, tutors, faculty, board members and all friends of PARTS (and let's not forget to mention that the buffet was exquisite).So we want to thank e-v-e-r-y-o-n-e who has made this day an unforgettable one!

We are more than delighted to welcome you to the EXiiiT Festival.To mark the end of their studies at P.A.R.T.S., the students of Generation XIII have been busy organizing and curating the EXiiiT festival. EXiiiT will be their most extensive collective project yet! Composed of performances, exhibitions, discussions, and other activities, the festival is a chance for the public to encounter the emerging artists who make up Generation XIII and gain insight into the work they have been doing over the past three years.All INFO about the program >>Practical info and TICKETS here>>We hope to see you soon!

PARTS mourns the passing away of Linda Raymond-Dougher. Since 2006, every second or third year she taught English classes to newly arriving students during the first semester or during the Summer preceding it, helping them to get to the level required for following daily classes in English. Linda was an ever-enthusiastic, supportive and inspiring teacher. Her importance went much further than helping students to improve their English: she empowered them, made them feels at ease in a new environment, and loved to check in on their further development as dancers in showings and performances. She passed away on May 13 after a long illness.

It's happening! From July 18 until August 19th P.A.R.T.S.organizes a new edition of SummerSchool and SummerStudios, while the previous two editions got cancelled due to covid.All info about the program & inscriptions can be found on our website:SummerSchool 2022SummerStudios 2022

Rudi Laermans is one of the very few people who has been involved as a teacher in PARTS since the very start of the school in 1995. He has taught sociology and theory to 13 generations of students. He is now retiring, and we want to give this extra attention by organizing a public farewell lecture on Tuesday 26/4 at 17h.We are more than delighted to welcome you at this farewell lecture.

This Saturday is the 7th edition of "Dag van de Dans". P.A.R.T.S. is also back in the game with “Derailed”, a collaboration with Benjamin Vandewalle performed by the 3rd year bachelor Training students.Between 14h and 17h the dancers of PARTS will mingle with the passers-by at the Europakruispunt, the square in front of Brussels Central Station.

After two years of cancellation, we are excited to finally welcome you back for our SummerSchool. From 18 July to 19 August P.A.R.T.S. opens its doors during the Summer to create an encounter between teachers, choreographers and dancers, exchanging knowledge and experience over the course of five weeks.

It is with great pleasure that we invite you for the public performance PARTS@WORK#4 on Saturday March 26th, 2022.PARTS@WORK#4 consists of several pieces - all personal work - of the 3rd year students from the Bachelor program Training.For the first time, entrance is not for free.The ticket revenue goes integrally to Vluchtelingenwerk to help refugees all over the world forced to flee their homes.There is a suggested price (5 EUR), but you decide what you can pay.No reservation is needed but the capacity is limited.

We are more than delighted to welcome you to the performances of the Guest creations 2022.In the 3rd year of the BA Training program, choreographers are invited to make a piece together with a group of students.In 2022, PARTS invited three choreographers: Tamara Cubas (Uruguay), Philipp Gehmacher (Austria) and Fabrice Mazliah (Switzerland/Germany). Each of them worked 8 weeks with a group of 8-13 students. From March 30 until April 1, 2022, you can discover the results during 3 evenings in the Rosas Performance Space.

P.A.R.T.S. is calling for new participants for the master program STUDIOS 2022-2024: a 2-year full time research program for young dance-makers & choreographers who want to develop their creative voice and practice in contemporary dance.The STUDIOS (MA) program is aimed at students who have obtained at least a BA degree in dance or choreography (or another BA and equivalent professional experience in dance), with strong dance and performance skills and a creative practice that is rooted in studio work.P.A.R.T.S. aims for a group of 12 participants between 21 and 27 years old.

The fifth pre-selection in Brussels being almost complete, we have decided to organize another EXTRA PRE-SELECTION in Brussels on Sunday April 3, 2022. This will be the sixth pre-selection in Brussels for the bachelor Training program 2022-25.Register now, because it’s going really fast.All info about the program, the preselections, the audition process & REGISTRATION: read more >>

Big news: all four scheduled Brussels pre-selections are complete.We are therefore more than delighted to announce an EXTRA PRE-SELECTION IN Brussels on Saturday April 2nd.Register now, because it’s going fast.All info about the program, the preselections, the audition process & REGISTRATION: read more >>

This weekend the 3rd year bachelor students participated in the third edition of SLOW festival in Bruges. A big thanks to e-v-e-r-y-o-n-e involved for these amazing past few days!On Saturday the students moved for 12 hours in a row through the train station in Bruges. Slowly, a movement score unfolded in space. Passersby were captivated by the colourful constellations and thoughtful actions.“Today At The Station” is a choreography by Cypriot artist Maria Hassabi that focuses on slowing down and stillness. Their movements were accompanied by a soundscape of the Greek composer Stavros Gasparatos, especially created for this occasion.

Don’t miss this one time opportunity to see our students from the 3rd BA Training perform collectively! This weekend the students take part in the third edition of SLOW festival in Bruges In a society that is all about rushing forward, Concertgebouw Brugge gives you 36 hours to stop and reflect.On Saturday, February 5th, about 35 PARTS students will move through the entrance hall of the Bruges train station. From 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., they will perform a choreography by Cypriot artist Maria Hassabi that focuses on slowing down and stillness. Their movements are accompanied by a soundscape by the Greek composer Stavros Gasparatos.Let this choreography stir you for a moment and take the time to stop and zoom in on the details.

We are very excited to invite you for the public performance PARTS@WORK#3 on Sunday January 30th, 2022.PARTS@WORK#3 consists of several pieces - all personal work - of the 3rd year students from the Bachelor program Training.Free entrance – no reservation is needed but the capacity is limited - with CST.Doors open at 14h30 - showing starts at 15h sharp (latecomers are not admitted)End foreseen at 17h15 Duration: 2 hours (with a break of 15 minutes).

Last week we had a very special visit at P.A.R.T.S: our Majesty the Queen visited P.A.R.T.S. to meet with our Bachelor Training students and staff.With this visit, the Queen wants to give the cultural sector, and especially art students, a heartfelt boost during this difficult period.

An EXTRA AUDITION for our BA Training program 2022-2025 will be held in London on Sunday February 13th, 2022. Registrations for this EXTRA preselection are OPEN via this website.

To get familiar with the school and the program. P.A.R.T.S. organizes a number of activities for those interested in applying for the Training (BA) cycle auditions in the spring of 2022.Are you a young aspiring dancer/choreographer considering participating in the auditions for the Training program of 2022-2025? During the winter of 2021-2022, you can actively take part in three long weekends with a variety of workshops.

We are more than delighted to announce EXTRA AUDITIONS for our upcoming BA Training program 2022-2025 in Brazil (São Paulo) , Iceland (Reykjavik), Finland (Helsinki), Germany (Hamburg), Hungary (Budapest) and Tunisia (Tunis).REGISTER NOW because it’s going fast: the preselection in Paris on Saturday January 15th is full. We gladly refer candidates to the nearest pre-selection in Brussels on saturday January 8th, where there are still places available. All info about the program, the preselections, the audition process & REGISTRATION: read more >>

PARTS is very sad to learn of the passing away of Annie Declerck, who was a member of the General Assembly and the Board of Directors of P.A.R.T.S. since 2003. She was a very committed supporter of P.A.R.T.S., and above all, in her career as a TV journalist, she made an invaluable contribution to the development of the performing arts in Flanders.

To get familiar with the school and the program. P.A.R.T.S. organizes a number of activities for those interested in applying for the Training (BA) cycle auditions in the spring of 2022.Are you a young aspiring dancer/choreographer considering participating in the auditions for the Training program of 2022-2025? During the winter of 2021-2022, you can actively take part in three long weekends with a variety of workshops.

We are very excited to invite you for the public performance PARTS@WORK#2 on Thursday November 4th, 2021 & Friday November 5th, 2021.PARTS@WORK#2 consists of repertoire work of Rosas (the 5th Brandenburger Concerto), repertoire work of the Trisha Brown Dance Company (Solo Olos en Rogues) and personal work. All performers are 3rd year students from the Bachelor program Training.

P.A.R.T.S. organizes international pre-selections for its upcoming BA Training program 2022-2025 between January and March of 2022.We are more than delighted to announce that we are opening the registrations for the candidates from today onwards.

INTERNATIONAL PRE-SELECTIONS TRAINING CYCLE 2022-2025 BETWEEN JANUARY AND MARCH 2022

On Sunday 10 October the Dutch theatre director Jan Ritsema (Amsterdam, 1945) passed away. Ritsema was much more than a director, however. He was also a publisher, bookseller, dramatist, theatre teacher, actor and dancer, and above all a mentor and coach for many artists. Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker and Rosas lose a colleague and friend, PARTS loses a teacher and pedagogue pur sang.

You are very welcome to join us on Sunday October 10th for the first PARTS@WORK of this academic year 2021-22. PARTS@WORK#1 consists in several pieces - all personal work - of the 3rd year students from the Bachelor program Training.We look forward to your visit and would like to remind you that a valid Covid Safe Ticket is required to attend this performance. Anyone aged 12 years and older must present a valid Covid Safe Ticket (or EU Digital COVID Certificate) in the form of a QR code (digital or printed) as well as a piece of identification with picture.Please take into account the extra CST control and arrive well on time.

On Sunday September 26th, Rosas and PARTS celebrated the retirement of Theo Van Rompay, co-founder of the school who worked as deputy director for more than 25 years. As part of the celebrations, Theo was interviewed by journalist Anna Luyten, theatre maker and political activist Dominique Willaert and choreographer Jonathan Burrows. During the conversations, they touched upon different aspects of his professional career at and beyond PARTS.

This week, the graduating Master students of STUDIOS are welcomed by STUK - House for Dance, Image & Sound (Leuven) for a collective residency.During one week, the graduates will look back on their graduation works and research, share collective practice, and enter into dialogue with workspaces and alternative management offices about their future plans in the professional field.

We are very happy to announce that on Monday September 6th, we opened the new academic year 2021-22 for the bachelor's program Training (3rd year).We started the new school year with an introduction week composed of collective classes, sharing of physical practices, workshops and talking sessions.

We feel very fortunate to have rounded off the academic year 20-21 with a whole series of internal and public performances, both from the Training and the STUDIOS students, in Brussels and Oostende.On September 6th, we will restart with the third and last year of the Bachelor’s program TRAINING. Also in September, a first generation of students in the Master's program STUDIOS will graduate. We are very proud to award, for the very first time, an Academic Master degree in Dance.

During 4 weeks, the students from our Bachelor program Training had a choice to work in smaller groups on repertoire, creation or personal work. All of this was presented mid June during an internal presentation.In the spotlight this week: personal work initiated by Renátó Miskolczi with “FLIES”.

During 4 weeks, the students from our Bachelor program Training had a choice to work in smaller groups on repertoire, creation or personal work. All of this was presented mid June during an internal presentation.In the spotlight this week: personal work initiated by Jair Jetzehu Montes Rangel with “Todos”.

During 4 weeks, the students from our Bachelor program Training had a choice to work in smaller groups on repertoire, creation or personal work. All of this was presented mid June during an internal presentation.In the spotlight this week: personal work initiated by Antoine Dupuy & Ching-Shu Huang with the “Jelly Fish Collective Practice”.

During 4 weeks, the students from our Bachelor program Training had a choice to work in smaller groups on repertoire, creation or personal work. All of this was presented mid June during an internal presentation.In the spotlight this week: a new creation guided by Moya Michael and Judith Sanchez Ruiz.

During 4 weeks, the students from our Bachelor program Training had a choice to work in smaller groups on repertoire, creation or personal work. All of this was presented mid June during an internal presentation. In the spotlight this week: Rosas repertoire “A Love Supreme” by Salva Sanchis & Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, taught by Salva Sanchis & Thomas Vantuycom.

We are more than delighted to finally open our doors and welcome you for the STUDIOS Graduation Works 2021. From June 8 until June 20, you can discover a new generation of artists who will carve their way in the performing arts scene in the coming years.

To close the academic year we will dance into the summer at the DANSAND! festival in Ostend. DANSAND! is a festival for dance and movement. This year the focus is on encounter and connection with a three-day program full of performances at special locations. P.A.R.T.S. is a regular and welcome guest at DANSAND!, in the past there have been numerous creations with guest choreographers, site-specific performances and graduation works. This year, the Training students present a series of solos.

"This is not a form of resistance unless you dance, make a risky move to stand a chance".Using the song "The World As It M$$$F Is" and its quote from John the Houseband as a starting point we will venture out into the city of Brussels for two days. Finding a way on how we as dancers can relate to the state of the present world. On the first day we will visit several nursing homes in Forest transforming their daily view on the outside world into spectacle. The next day will be an invasion of 35 dancers moving through brussels, always on the move, with colourful costumes, filling the public space with derailed corona-proof activities aspiring to create a brief sense of liberty. During the week, they will also be working on a video performance outdoors, you can find all the videos here.

Over the last five weeks the students from our Bachelor programme Training got to work on the repertory of Trisha Brown’s Son of gone Fishin’ (1981). They immersed themselves in the material under the guidance of two company members, Samuel Wentz and Leah Ives. Our tutor Diane Madden, who has a rich history with the Trisha Brown Dance Company, curated the workshop project and prepared the students for this block by transmitting the phrase material and in depth technical knowledge throughout her contemporary technique classes.

Today is the official launch of Generation XIII, a documentary podcast about 5 dancers, 3 years, 1 school: a portrait of a generation at PARTS.Generation XIII drafts a portrait of the generation that has been studying at PARTS since September 2019, through the experiences and voices of five students following the Bachelor program Training.Sociologist Delphine Hesters follows Eleni from Greece, Kia from New Zealand, Marllon from Brazil, Renátó from Hungary and Zoé from France, all through their studies, until the Summer of 2022.

Last week, STUDIOS students had a residency in the workspace wpZimmer in Antwerp, as part of the course 'Contextual labs': an intensive but fulfilling week of interactive learning, sharing and exploring.They followed a work programme in which various wpZimmer employees shared their expertise with the students. The programme included discussions with the artistic team about the mission and functioning of the house, a master class on communicating about artistic work, a master class on setting up and managing one's own productions, and a two-day introduction to stage techniques (light and sound). Herewith some pictures of their work and studio experiments.

Our students come from all over the world, they are diverse in ethnicity, gender, cultural environment. And their parents hold different positions in society. Some of them can easily take on the study costs of their daughter or son, for others this is an impossible hurdle.PARTS selects students solely on the basis of talent. In order to ensure access to the school for all those selected, the P.A.R.T.S.FOUNDATION was set up. It has only one goal: to raise funds for scholarships for our students. And you can help us! Read more here

Last week Diane Madden concluded 3 weeks of teaching contemporary technique to the 2nd year students of the Training Cycle. In her class, Diane Madden is building up material and skills towards a longer Trisha Brown repertoire workshop in Spring 2021, in which students will be creating their own version of Brown’s “Son of Gone Fishin’” 1981.Diane has been giving workshops at PARTS based on Trisha Brown’s repertoire for many years. Since 1980 Diane has been an integral part of Trisha Brown’s work: as a dancer, rehearsal director and Associate Artistic Director.It is a special honour for PARTS that Diane Madden is associated with the school for the entire Training Cycle, from 2019-2022.

Last October, philosopher Ben Woodard gave a seminar to the students of STUDIOS. We also invited him for a public lecture. In this lecture, he talks about the concept of the Anthropocene and the questions that this raises.

We are happy to announce that, on Monday August 31st, we opened the new academic year 2020-21 with live programs for Training (2nd year) and STUDIOS (2nd year).Of course we are talking about a lot of safety measures, smaller groups, bubbles, extra space to guarantee social distancing, timeslots, facemasks, sanitizers and circulation plans, but we have made it work.

On the first day of the new academic year 2020-21, Theo Van Rompay, co-founder of P.A.R.T.S., stepped down as Deputy Director of the school. He will retire on September 1st, 2021 and during the last year of his employment he will focus on a number of special projects.Charlotte Vandevyver, previously coordinator of the STUDIOS program, took up her position as the new deputy director of P.A.R.T.S. With Director Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, a new female duo will now lead the school. As an addition to the team we also welcome Yannick Roman as the new Financial and Administrative Manager.

On September 4th 2020, PARTS had its 25th anniversary.After an inspiring journey of 25 years we are very proud that both cycles, Training and STUDIOS, are recognised by the Flemish government as a Bachelor in Dance (since June 2019) and Master in Dance (since July 2020).

Just before the official start of the school year we organized a three day program BACK. CURRENT: a come together between the students, teachers and staff as a transitioning from the lockdown into the new school year. To reflect on what happened, focus on the present and look into the future.

On August 31st the normal programs for Training (2nd year) and STUDIOS (2nd year) will restart. On this first day of the new academic year 2020-21, Theo Van Rompay, co-founder of P.A.R.T.S. who is retiring soon, will step down as Deputy Director of the school. Charlotte Vandevyver will take up her position as the new deputy director of P.A.R.T.S., to lead the school together with director Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker.

The academic year is running towards its end, the Summer holiday is just around the corner.On Saturday June 27th we organized the last open-air class in Duden park with David Hernandez.Since May 18 - when the National Security Council decided that training outdoors for group sports was allowed again – we have organized a weekly 90’ outdoor dance class in the park for a group of maximum 20 people. A very welcome relief for all the students that have been locked up in small Brussels spaces with no access to flowery backyards, mountain-view meadows or sunny beaches. Luck was on our side, the weather was always very nice.

The school management has decided to suspend all classes until the end of the academic year. The safety of students and teachers cannot be guaranteed as social distancing is in many cases not an option for a dance school. Moreover, our studios are not big enough to work with groups of 20 students, while a permanent distance of 1.5 meters should be kept between all dancers.The online classes for the students will continue until the end of June. Many PARTS teachers have made great efforts to adapt their teaching practice to online teaching, including technique teachers for ballet and contemporary dance. The majority of the students of the Training Cycle have now returned to their home country.

During an X-Week, the normal operation modus of the school is suspended.The invited artists can work a whole week with the students, in or outside school. The subject may be composition or improvisation, but also politics or visit museums and exhibitions. We ask the artists to unveil their way of approaching art towards the students. For this week of artistic practice PARTS invited the artists Stina Nyberg & Zoë Poluch, Diederik Peeters and Ula Sickle.

'About birds and other animals'Philosopher Vinciane Despret enters into conversation with Bojana Cvejic about her work, following a seminar for the students of the Studios programme.After philosophical and psychological studies, Vinciane Despret specialized in ethology, the study of animal behavior, and became fascinated by the humans who work with animals. Borrowing a path from philosophy of sciences, her work combines ethological and psychological research with the goal of understanding and explaining how scientists build their theories, how they interact with historical and social contexts, and what relation is established between them and animals.

Throwback to the public presentation "Exchanges" of last Friday, a final sharing of the 5 weeks during exchange project between Ecole des Sables and PARTS.Thank you Ecole des Sables for your hospitality!Thank you Ogutu Muraya (Kenya), Faustin Linyekula (Congo), Panaibra Gabriel Canda (Mozambique), Nadia Beugré (Ivory Coast) and Qudus Onikeku (Nigeria) for sharing your artistic practice so generously.Thank you to Ise An Verstegen (Netherlands), Patrick Acogny (Senegal/France), Mamadou Baldé (Senegal), Ntone Edjabe (Cameroon), Saky Bertrand Tchébé (Ivory Coast) and the musicians for transmitting your technique and insights on African dance.And thank you all participants for your curiosity and hard work!

You are very welcome to join us for the public presentation of the theatre workshops of the 1st year Training students.Free entrance – no reservation is needed.Doors open at 14h45 (program 1) and 17h45 (program 2), the performances start at 15h and 18h sharp (latecomers are not admitted).Each program consists of 2 pieces, 4 in total. There is a short break between the 2 programs. You are welcome to watch both of the programs !Program 1 at 15h :Group of Carly WijsGroup of Thomas RyckewaertProgram 2 at 18h :Group of Eva SchramGroup of Scarlet Tummers

Ise chose Acogny and Acogny chose her.In her work as a dance artist Ise Verstegen interweaves worlds with an inclusive, transcultural vision and body language. Since 2008 she has been working closely with Germaine Acogny, the mother of modern African dance. Acogny technique is a dance technique and philosophy based on West African and Western dances. Ise's work and transmission start from embodiment, connection, collectivity and the respect, possibilities and natural strength of each body through rhythm and movement. From here she addresses social issues.

From January 2nd until February 6th, 14 students from the STUDIOS program at P.A.R.T.S. and 10 young choreographers and dancers from the African continent meet and exchange at Ecole des Sables, the school initiated by Germaine Acogny in Toubab Dialaw, Senegal. This is the third exchange program and the collaboration between P.A.R.T.S and Ecole des Sables goes back until 2013.

PARTS@WORK#2 – Sunday 26/01, 15h.The performance is for free, no reservation is needed.Doors open at 14h45, the performance starts at 15h sharp (latecomers are not admitted).PARTS@WORK is a series of informal showings of work created by PARTS students.PARTS@WORK #2 consists in several pieces, all personal work of the 1st year Training students.Hope to see you there !!

From January 2nd until February 6th, 14 students from the STUDIOS program at P.A.R.T.S. and 10 young choreographers and dancers from the African continent meet and exchange at Ecole des Sables, the school initiated by Germaine Acogny in Toubab Dialaw, Senegal. This is the third exchange program and the collaboration between P.A.R.T.S and Ecole des Sables goes back until 2013.

PARTS@WORK is a series of informal showings of work created by PARTS students.PARTS@WORK #1 consists in a number of short pieces, all personal work of the new Training students, made in the first three months of the schoolyear. These performances are free, no reservation is needed.Hope to see you there !!

This lecture centres on the practices of African Diaspora art as archive, resistance and transformation. It adopts an Afrogenic approach, restructuring the “geographies of reason” and approaches the various timelines, genres and practices from the perspective of rhythm as a mobile institution. It seeks to move out of the realm of mysticism, obscurity and tropes over into access, right to opacity and approachability. The lecture seeks to courageously step into the uncomfortable and difficult conversation with the perspective of generous black rage.

From November 18 to 29, the Taipei Performing Arts Center and the Centre national de la Danse (Paris) organise the first edition of Camping Asia. It's an event where more than 100 students from 12 art schools from across Asia and the rest of the world gather to work and learn together.

We regularly organize semi-public talks with teachers at P.A.R.T.S. It is a way for our students to get a deeper insight in the teacher his/her personal practice, work as a performer, own artistic work, and anything else he/she might be busy with. On Monday, September 30 we had our first talk with David Hernandez.

This week, researcher Stephen Zepke is teaching a seminar in the Studios programme at PARTS. On Thursday evening 26/9 at 19h, he will give a public lecture in which he reflects on the possibility of art to reflect about the future, if anything 'new' can still be imagined and created.Free entrance, reservation is not necessary!

In 2019-20, PARTS starts with a new generation of students and a new programme!On September 2, the students of Generation XIII started the 1st year of the Training cycle 2019-2022. They are 40, representing 24 different nationalities from five continents.On September 23, the new Studios programme starts, with a program of 2 years with 14 participants from 11 different countries. Stay tuned to this website for news about our public activities!

Last week Somnia premiered, a performance by Anne Teresa and Jolente De Keersmaeker for the 44 graduating students of the Training Cycle, in the fairytale setting of the Castle Park in Gaasbeek. The press also came to watch and saw that it was good:De Standaard, Charlotte De Somviele: 'A tour de force in the castle park'. "Tons of energy must cost to master this boundless setting. But the 44 players throw themselves, and how. They walk around for miles, let themselves tumble down the slopes and climb like monkeys in the trees."La Libre Belgique, Guy Duplat: 'Somnia, a daydream mixing dance, nature and poetry': 'Somnia is a total artistic and ecological experience, which requires active spectators to research thousands and one small scenes; this is a moment that connects us back with nature and with the love games so dear to Shakespeare'.Le Soir, Jean-Marie Wynants: 'A great experience of nature': "There will be many other magical moments: the fire on the water, the dancers spiralling among the spectators, the slow ascent of the stairs by the spectators, and this fully danced final sequence where the 44 students of PARTS flow between dream and reality like these thousands of young people marching in our streets to protect the planet."www.pzazz.theater, Pieter T'Jonck: 'In the magic forest': "The real protagonist of this piece is the castle park: The De Keersmaeker sisters succeeded in revealing the imaginative power that is enclosed in it, by manipulating the 'score' of it."More information about the performance here.

From September 2019 onwards, PARTS will launch a new advanced 2-year program, called STUDIOS.STUDIOS is a 2-year fulltime research programme for dance-makers and choreographers, who intend to develop their creative voice and practice, in a learning environment that is communal and collaborative.

On 1 September 2020, Theo Van Rompay (1954), co-founder of P.A.R.T.S., will step down as Deputy Director of the school. His succession is already assured, since a year earlier, in September 2019, the new 'Studios' programme will start, for which a coordinator had to be appointed. Charlotte Vandevyver (1982) will implement this new 'Studios' programme from 1 May 2019 onwards. On 1 September 2020 she will take up her position as the new deputy director of P.A.R.T.S., to lead the school together with director Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker.