The largest dance institution in French-speaking Belgium cancels the planned Belgian premiere of ‘The fluid force of love’. This is done in consultation with Troubleyn, Jan Fabre’s company. According to the organizer, several threats were made on social media in the run-up to the performance.
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The performance was scheduled for October 30 during the Biennale of dance in Charleroi. But in a press release, co-signed by Troubleyn, Charleroi Danse director Annie Bozzini announces that the performance is now canceled after all. The fluid force of love premiered in France this spring, the performance in Charleroi would be the first in Belgium. For the time being, no other Belgian play dates are known.
The reason is referred to “the pressure and swear words that surrounded this program”. “There have been threats on social media, including that all seats will be bought for the show to take place in front of an empty hall, which is particularly violent for the performers. Pressure has also been put on the company itself,” Bozzini clarified.
The news comes a day after it became known that the Antwerp arts center De Singel had removed the statue The man who measures the clouds by Jan Fabre has removed from the roof. “Because of the complaints against Jan Fabre, this image was not appropriate at an art school,” said Hendrik Storme, director of De Singel, in this newspaper. Other cultural institutions, including the Smak in Ghent, do not follow the example of De Singel.
Later this month, on September 21, Jan Fabre has to answer to the criminal court in Antwerp. This is a result of the investigation that was started after the open letter of September 2018, in which Fabre was accused by twenty (former) dancers and employees of transgressive behavior and abuse of power within his company Troubleyn.
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