Curriculum vitae
PETRA SANDRA – pé – VERMEERSCH
born 24th of November 1969 in Izegem, Belgium
– current position : dancer-choreographer– artistic director Radical HeArts, Kortrijk
– Language skills : mother tongue Dutch
– French, fluent speaking and reading, writing to improve
– English, excellent speaking, reading and writing
– German, passive knowledge
C H O R E O G R A P H I C R E P E R T O I R E Radical HeArts/ P.S. Vermeersch
– blondes have no soul : solo for evident nakedness, silence and whiteness, creation 2001
– it organs (the body) : trio for church and repertoire of live organ, creation 2004 and 2009
– making the skies move : duo for piano works of Olivier Messiaen, creation 2011
– the black carpet : composition for 9 dancers and 3 Berber rugs, creation 2012, sept-oct.
E D U C A T I O N
High School 1981/1987
(Spes Nostra, Heule and St. Jozefscollege, Izegem )
MA in philosophy 1987/1992
(Rijksuniversiteit of Ghent and Free University of Brussels)
Subject of the thesis : the ontological differences and similarities in western and eastern ways of performing
Dance training :
since childhood : classical and contemporary dance, singing courses, declamation, acting, piano, guitar in Academy of Izegem, Royal Conservatory in Kortrijk, and dance cie Cie Polyhymnia
1992/93 Contempory and classical daily dance training project
Antwerpen « De Beweeging » and Brussels at « Le Plateau »
1993/94 Kathakali and Bharatanatyam, formation in India (Kerala)
since 1994 research into the butoh dance movement throughout Europe
until 2003 student of Akira Kasai, eurythmist and non-typical butoh dancer,
bodyweatherwork of Min Tanaka (Europe and Japan)
1999-2001 intensive studies in Noh with Richard Emmert, Tokyo, and Shinji Takabayashi
S C O L A R S H I P S
1997 special grant by the Honda Foundation, Belgium
1999 laureate of the Europalia «Nippon-Kinen scolarship »
2000-2001 laureate of the « Bunka-cho scholarship for foreign students, from the Japanese Government; Supported by the « International Theatre Institute, Tokyo »
A R T I S T I N R E S I D E N C E
1996 : ‘De Beweeging ‘ (wp Zimmer), Antwerp, and ‘Centre National Chorégraphique de Rennes’
2001 : ‘The Kyoto Art Centre’, Japan
S U B V E N T I O N S
• Subventions of the Flemish Ministry of Culture
1997 -dance « Salome zag Iokanaan »
1999 dance « L’amour Beach Resort »
2000 dance « Blondes have no soul »
2011 dance and visual art ‘The Black Carpet’
° regular subvention of the Province of East-Flanders and City of Ghent
from 2002- 2005 for ‘Watch out, dancers !’ and ‘the P+ danced concerts’
° regular subvention of the Province of West-Flanders and City of Kortrijk
from 2007- till .. for ‘dirty elphins’, ‘making the skies move’, ‘it organs’, ‘pregnancy level 8’, and the training program
W R I T I N G S on dance and body
• « About Butoh. In research for its origin and actual meaning. Interview with Min Tanaka »,
published in ‘Contact quarterly. Biannual journal of dance and improvisation’ (New York, PS1),
winter/spring 2002, n° 1, p. 22-33; in the French magazine « Tausendaugen », and in the
Belgian newspaper « De Morgen ».
° « Death of a little butoh mermaid», « Etcetera » (Brussels), n° 76, april 2001, p. 11-18.
‘Mort d’une petite sirène du butoh’, traduit de l’anglais par Bertram DHELLEMMES, [Ghent, The
Small House for Radical Art, 2001].
° ‘Je ne peux danser la vérité’. Interview avec Pé Vermeersch, in ISEL. L’art de vivre, juillet/août
2007, p. 79-8.
° ‘Through the matter we should go’, in Orgelkunst (Belgian journal for organ music), 2009.
° ‘Are there still savages amongst us ?’, in ‘Invitation au voyage. Kunst als voertuig voor mentale
reizen’, ed. Claire VANDAMME e.a., Ghent, University/LKG, 2011.
W O R K S H O P S
2012 : ‘Ramdam’ in Lyon, inner techniques for dance
2010 – 2011 : ‘Radical HeArts’ in Kortrijk : regular sensibility trainings and bodywork
2010 :‘Cadmium’ Paris, breathing techniques
2002-2005 : ‘The small house’, Ghent, regular workshops/ sensibility trainings
2005 : ‘Klik’, Lichtervelde, series of sensibility training for children .
2004 :‘Centre National de la Danse’, Pantin, France : ‘living in forms’
2004 : Théâtre de la cité internationale and Academie Fratellini Paris, France
inner techniques for dance
2002 : Kyoto Art Centre, Kyoto, Japan, sensibility trainings
MA I N C R E A T I O N S
° STAGE WORKS – repertoire
MAKING THE SKIES MOVE : choreographic duo for piano music of Olivier Messiaen
With Angela Babuin (Paris) , Pé Vermeersch (Kortrijk/Courtrai), Jan Michiels (Brussels)
2011 : Belgium : Concertstudio Kortrijk/Courtrai, CC De Spil Roeselare/Roulers, CC Ronse/Renaix, CC Lommel
France : L’Avant-Seine, Théâtre de Colombes
(work in progress )THE BLACK CARPET : composition for group and several Berber carpets.
In collaboration with prof. Paul Vandenbroeck and with Angela Babuin, Marc Planceon, Irénée Blin, Hélène Barrier, Mira Walschot, Rebecca Rosseel, Aleesa Shirayshi, Alejandro Pablo Russo, Giovanni Scarcella
–2011 first expo–performance : Lokaal 01, Breda (The Netherlands)
–2012 release september /october /november : Roger Raveel Museum Ghent
IT ORGANS / Het Orgelt : première of the choreographic trio
With Angela Babuin , Mira Walschot or Irénée Blin, Pé Vermeersch, Jan Vermeire
2011 : France : L’Avant-Seine, Théâtre de Colombes, Paris
2010 : The Netherlands : Zierikzee, Main Church
Belgium : CC Torhout, Main Church, Kortrijk, Day of the Cultural Heritage
2009 : The Netherlands : Amsterdam, Orgelpark
Belgium, Theatres in collaboration with churches of Roeselare/Roulers, Kortrijk/Courtrai, Ieper/Ypres, St.
Niklaas, Mechelen/Malines, Ghent/Gand, Lommel, Hasselt
IT ORGANS THE BODY : solo research into the organ repertoire with master organ players
2006 : Belgium : St. Walburga Kerk, Veurne/Furnes, with Jan Vermeire
Spain: Fundación Carlos de Amberes, Madrid, with Els Biesemans
2005 : The Netherlands, Festival voor de Wind, Domkerk, Utrecht, with Louis Robbilliard, France
Belgium, St. Maartenskerk, Kortrijk, with Dirk Blockeel, and St. Stephanuskerk, Ghent, with Paul De Mayer
2004 : Brussels, Miniemenkerk, with François Hautard
BLONDES HAVE NO SOUL : solo work for evident nakedness, silence and whiteness, one to two hours
2011 : France : L’Avant- Seine, Théâtre de Colombes
2006 : Belgium : CC Menen, Royal Museum of Fine Arts, Antwerp, installation
2005 : Spanish tour in Cadiz, Seville, Madrid, Santiago de Compostela, Valladolid, series of performances
»
2004: France, Paris : Théâtre de la Cité Internationale and Théâtre Choisy Le Roi. IFOB, series
2003 : France, Paris : Théâtre de la Cité Internationale
2002: Belgium ‘Kunstencentrum “Belgie”’, Hasselt; Poëziezomer in Watou (only the songs); The Small House for
Radical Art, Ghent, and ISTF Théâtre Marni, Brussels, series.
2001 : creation in Kyoto Art Centre, Kyoto, and the ‘Flanders Centre’ in Osaka, series
° STUDIO PERFORMANCES
2008 : –‘PREGNANCY LEVEL 8’ : series of performances in december when 8 months pregnant; Pé Vermeersch in collaboration with flute player Bert Jacobs
–MAKING THE SKIES MOVE I : Solo research into different pianomusic, series
2007 : ‘Dirty Elphins’; non-stop group work in relation to the work of 3 visual contemporary artists
° SITE SPECIFIC WORKS
2009 : City Gardens, Kortrijk, ‘the blindfold dances’, duo Pé Vermeersch + Mira Walschot
2005 : Harbour of Gent, ‘Watch out ! dancers !’ series with big group of dancers in public spaces
E X H I B I T I O N S
2005 : –Antwerp, Gynaika/Gallery In Between, solo exhibition of paintings & drawings, with performances
–CC Evergem, solo exhibition, drawings and paintings
–CC Menen, solo exhibition, drawings and paintings
2006 : –Royal Museum of Fine Arts, Antwerpen/Anvers, group exhibition ‘Gorge(l)’, drawings, paintings, performances
2007 : Lokaal 01, Breda (The Netherlands), group exhibition, paintings
2008 : –Gallery R53, Oostende/Ostende, group exhibition, paintings
–Radical HeArts, Kortrijk/Courtrai, solo exhibition, drawings, paintings, video, performances
2009 : CC De Spil, Roeselare/Roulers, group exhibition, drawings
2012 : Radical HeArts, Kortrijk/Courtrai : group exhibition, paintings
2013 :
A L L C R E A T I O N S
2006 : –‘Nijinski’s Big Band’, Stadsschouwburg Kortrijk; Vieze Gasten Ghent, musical theatre play based
on the diaries of Nijinski, with trumpet player Bart Maris and cello player Lode Vercampt
–‘Zielewind’, Stadsschouwburg Kortrijk; Stadsschouwburg Mechelen
Pé Vermeersch in collaboration with soprano Françoise Vanhecke
2005 : Masquerade, Stadsschouwburg Kortrijk, composition for 5 dancers and brassband
2004 : the P+ concerts (series) : danced improvisations with cello, trumpet, electronics in
The Small House for Radical Art, Ghent : Pé Vermeersch in collaboration with Bart Maris,
Lode Vercampt, Jan Marmenout, Peter Clasen
2001 : « 8 very informal dances » : series of improvised dances with Rolf Meesters in the Cie
Vlinderboom’s rehearsal studio in Brussels
1999 : « L’amour beach resort », text by Marguerite Duras.
With Bertram Dhellemmes, Jenne Decleir and Pé Vermeersch. Scenography : Trudo Engels.
At the Netwerk in Aalst, at the Free University of Brussels, the Art Center België in Hasselt
1998 : « The Nietzsche project » first performance project after a lab/workshop group guided by Pé Vermeersch. With Nathalie Marchall, Els Reynaert, Ve Vandenbroucke, Cathy Leplée and Séverine Gaillez
1998 : « Deianira a Greek Tragedy », text by Sophocles, and based on Nietzsche’s « Birth of the tragedy ». Marimba : Philip De Jaeger. Visual artist : Dirk De Middeleer. With Nathalie Marechal and Eric Collard.
Series for the « Gravensteen » in Ghent.
Series for the Festival Theater aan Zee, Oostende.
CC. De Spil, Roeselare
CC Het Ghelandt, Wevelgem
1997 « Salomé zag Iokanaan ». With Masaki Iwana, Emilie de Vlam, Pé Vermeersch.
Artistic assistant : Vital Schraenen. Scenography : Peter Maschke/Pé Vermeersch
In the festival « De Beweeging » in Antwerpen, at the « Gymnase » in Roubaix, at the « Centre Nerveux » in Ottignies and at the « Baudelookapel » in Ghent.
Installation « The fountains of Anger » : improvised dance in a water installation of Emilie de Vlam and Jan Goedemee. Street performance for the Street performance festival « La Strada » (TREFPUNT), Ghent (« Gentse Feesten ») and « de Parade » in ‘s Hertogenbosch
1996 DEN KEN (study for the « Salomé » project). Choreography for 3 women’s faces :
1996 « Niet ik ». Samuel Beckett. Regie : Vital Schraenen. Translation : Hans Theys, creation at the « Plateau »
1995 « Gliding » of Pé Vermeersch. Life-piano Ross Feller. Lighting : Vital Schraenen.
Series at the «Plateau » in Brussels, at « De Zeyp » in Brussels, at « Chiroux » (festival solo duo trio) in Liège and at the festival « De Beweeging » in Antwerpen
1994 « Alles aan heM was mooi, zei » from « The sleeping beauties» of Yasunari Kawabata
With Kris Kaerts, Gretel Van Ourti, Nicoline Dossche, Pé Vermeersch. Music : Hendrik Verroken et Peter Clasen (Neven). Scenography : Jan Broekaert. Lighting : Vital Schraenen.
Series for the « Plateau » in Brussels
1994 « De dans der smoelen » : choreographie for many different faces.
With Nicoline Dossche, Pé Vermeersch and Valérie Severeys. Based on Gombrowicz (Ferdydurke)
1993 « Speech on the myth of innocence of youth », a maidenspeech for the Beursschouwburg in Brussels, the Nieuwpoorttheater in Ghent, De Media in Eeklo and De Zeyp in Brussels
T E L E V I S I O N and T H E A T R E
1986/1996 free lance career as moderator, interviewer, scenarist (documentaries) for the national Belgian Radio and Television (BRT)
1986/1989 actress in the theater Cie Antigone in Kortrijk
1987/1989 actress in the Cie Theater Teater in Mechelen
1992/1994 dancer and choreographer in the Cie Victoria/ Alain Platel Ghent
actress in the Cie Blauw Vier, Antwerpen
dancer in the Cie MAMU, Göttingen, Germany
dancer in a project of Christine Quaraud, Sarlat, France
1996/1998 actress in the Cie Tirasila, Antwerpen and Brussels
1998/2001 actress in the international theatral Cie Leporello, based in Brussels
2001 dancer with Min Tanaka, NHK Hall, Tokyo
dancer with Akira Kasai, Théâtre Artaud, San Francisco
2002 dancer for ‘Nobody’s Eve’, choreography of Akira Kasai, Tokyo, Setagaya public theatre and Kyoto Biwako Hall