BE FLAT FOLLOW ME (BELGIUM)
SHOW IS CANCELED DUE TO COVID-19 TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS!!!
In “Follow Me”, two ‘urban acrobats’ interpret public space. The duo invites you to become a part of the followers and discover Riga city in a unique way – starting from the noisy Merķeļa Street, through the century-old Riga Circus building, you will be guided towards the calm Alfrēda Kalniņa Street and then through the urban environment to Elizabetes Street, encountering along the way a diverse range of ‘everyday’ situations. The streets of the district will transform into a stage with the facades as decor, the cobblestones as dance carpet and the traffic as a soundscape.
The content of each performance is largely determined by the specific area that has been chosen by Be Flat, so every performance is by nature unique. It is a continuous adaptation process in which the environment is the determining factor.
Be Flat aims for equality between audience and artist. ‘Followers’, locals and passers-by form together the audience for the performance. Everybody – including those with physical challenges – are welcome to enjoy and take part in the event.
The local inhabitants who live and work near the Riga Circus also will become actively involved during rehearsals and the performance, creating a bond between artists, inhabitants and the festival.
Be Flat is a Ghent circus/street theatre company founded by Ward Mortier and Thomas Decaesstecker. The mix of acrobatic circus with urban sports ensures the uniqueness of Be Flat.
Ward studied Chinese pole combined with acro-dance at ESAC (Ecole Supérieure des Arts du Cirque), Brussels. Thomas followed training as acrobat and hand-stand artist in Santiago, Chili at the Escuela De Artes Circenses Del Circo Del Mundo.
Both first met at a freerunning gathering in Ghent in 2008. (Freerunning is best described as a form of “urban acrobatics” in which participants (free runners) use the city and rural landscape to perform acrobatic movements in order to get from point A to point B.)
Sharing a mutual passion for music and movement during the ensuing years has led them to a unique and solid friendship. “Follow Me” is the first production of Be Flat (creation 2017–2018).
For an optimal experience, you will be asked to switch off smartphones and to tie shoelaces properly before the performance.
Wednesday, 19 August at 17.30 and 20.30
Thursday, 20 August at 17.30 and 20.30
60 minutes
Disciplines: parkour, acrobatics
Max visitors per performance: 100 persons
Age: 6+
Makers/circus artists: Ward Mortier and Thomas Decaesstecker
Dramaturgy: Craig Weston
External eye: Sander De Cuyper
External ear/composition: Karen Van Shaik
By attending this show, you agree:
– to be photographed and/or filmed,
– to give permission to use your likeness in promotional and/or marketing materials.
Photo: Luka Dakskobler
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