ULTRA

„I Want to Be a Father Like My Father.“

In ULTRA, ten youngsters let their explosive and vulnerable energy flow freely. Moving along a thin line between festivity and rebellion, ULTRA questions the role of typical masculine behaviour and group dynamics, while addressing the challenges and opportunities for youngsters growing up in a world of shifting norms.
For this piece, Reut Shemesh drew inspiration from an encounter with German ‘Ultra’ football fans. Blending teenage joy and aggression, the piece unveils the vulnerability beneath their loud expressions. A moving portrait of a group of adolescents aged 15 to 21, in a world full of expectations and labels. Reut Shemesh joins together two fascinations: On the one hand, an interest in power and group dynamics, on the other hand, personal questions, regarding so-called masculinity, which she asks herself in particular as a mother of a growing son.

The artistic collaboration between young talents and established artists is at the heart of fABULEUS' work. Sometimes young people are on stage, sometimes (prospective) professionals. fABULEUS offers them the necessary framework to develop their qualities as actors or dancers and is also internationally exemplary in this respect.

The Cologne-based choreographer Reut Shemesh has made a name for herself in the contemporary German dance scene and was Artist in Residence at K3 /Hamburg and at tanzhaus nrw Düsseldorf, where fABULEUS is a regular guest. Reut Shemesh brings together two fascinations: on the one hand, an interest in strength and group dynamics, and on the other, personal questions that she asks herself as a mother in relation to so-called masculinity.

“Mehr als Mega – ‘ULTRA’ ist das Ultimative. Nein: Over the top. So wie die Welt ist.(…) “ULTRA” feiert die Undurchschaubarkeit. Unerreichbarkeit.”
-ULTRA von Reut Shemesh, Magazin tanz, Melanie Suchy, Ausgabe April 2024

"Eine erstaunliche Stringenz durchzieht die Arbeiten von Reut Shemesh, in denen sie das Individuum sichtbar macht, bevor es vom Zwang der Gruppe vereinnahmt wird."
-Kommt die Zeit der Uniformen?, Choices Magazin, Thomas Linden, 5.2.2024

"Auf der Bühne geht es [in »Ultra«] (...) nicht direkt um Fußball, Fankultur und -kurven in Stadien. Sie waren vielmehr Inspirationsquelle für das wuchtige, auch bittere Stück »Ultra« der Kölner Choreografin Reut Shemesh. Mit zehn Jugendlichen, die ihre Themen und Talente einbringen konnten, hat sie es erarbeitet. Und was sind sie stark!"
-An Grenzen gehen, Stadtrevue Köln, Melanie Suchy, 28.03.2024

Concept, Choreography: Reut Shemesh
Creation, Performance: Andreas Crommelinck, Jinte De Greef, Luna Fall, Emma Ghijs, Kyano Holbrechts, Karsten Janssens, Glory Ofori-Asamoah, Mathis Schellekens, Ridder Seghers, Fien Simons
Assistant Choreographer: Katja Pire
Dramaturgy: Daniel Rademacher
Stagedesign, Video- und Lightdesign: Ronni Shendar
Music: Simon Bauer
Costumedesign: Joëlle Meerbergen
Assistant Costumedesign: Femke Vanweddingen
Cocreation: fABULEUS, Reut Shemesh Company

Co-produced by tanzhaus nrw, supported by the Bündnis internationaler Produktionshäuser e.V., Perpodium and STUK. Also funded by the City of Leuven, the Flemish Government, the Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia as part of the Spitzenförderung Tanz and the Kunststiftung NRW. Supported by the Tax Shelter of the Belgian government. With the support of take off: Junger Tanz. Supported by the Alliance of International Production Houses, funded by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media.