Conny Janssen Danst presents its new production ZIEL (SOUL) in which the guiding principle is the desire to live life to the full. Featuring a rock-solid, adventurous group of dancers, both young talent and familiar faces. In search of freedom, lightness and unexpected encounters. What keeps us from embracing life and breaking through the restrictions we impose upon ourselves?
In Conny Janssen’s most recent work, we find ourselves in our prime, including all insecurities and contradictions that go with it. Can we accept life without being paralyzed by the challenges that lie ahead. Are we prepared to take risks? Can we feel comfortable if life does not comply with our intentions and wishes?
ZIEL is an ode to life, with its ups and downs, its surprises and disappointments. From moments of contemplation to exuberant celebrations, from hard confrontations to hopeful expectations. In ZIEL, we give vent to the urge to be free and reckless, bring a breath of fresh air and dive into the deep, without fear or trepidation.
a beautiful, strongly danced performance with a spectacular stage setting' De Volkskrant
In the beautifully designed dance performance Ziel, Conny Janssen keeps the viewer engaged by constantly switching between hectic and slowed down, dreamy and in your face, darkness and light. Het Parool
Dancers ensemble, stage design & soundtrack
Conny Janssen put together an adventurous, international dance ensemble for ZIEL. Well-known dancers such as Adi Amit, Mariko Shimoda, Remy Tilburg and Maud Huizing can be seen alongside new faces who are making their debut in Conny Janssen Danst this season with their strong dancing qualities. For the stage design, Conny Janssen collaborates with designer Thomas Rupert and filmmaker Davide Bellotta, who give an extra dimension to the performance with their set design and motion graphics. The soundtrack accompanying ZIEL ranges from Iggy Pop’s high-spirited punk rock, soundscapes, vocals and arrangements by Maartje Teussink to Christophe Zurfluh’s invasive percussions.
Ten souls, one group and a series of words about how to embrace life, together form the beating heart of Ziel. (...) All ten of them have to overcome resistance before they dare to surrender to the group energy: loners looking for the flair of togetherness. You can see that resistance coursing through their bodies. De Volkskrant
Ziel is constructed with a series of super vital choreographies, from movements that you could perhaps call ground zero, because they are earthbound and violent, to effortless jumps freed from gravity. Sometimes the physical touches resemble a stylized fight with hands on each other's faces or around the shoulders. Theaterkrant.nl (The Critics Choice)