Laura Aris has been the choreographer’s assistant and movement coach of several performances directed by Ivo Van Hove with choreography by Wim Vandekeybus. Salome (2017), Elektra/ Orestes (2019), Age of Rage (2021).

AGE OF RAGE (2021)

In Age of Rage, Ivo van Hove tells a primordial story of how revenge haunts and wrecks successive generations. This performance is in line with earlier large-scale social productions such as Roman tragedies and Kings of War.

This time the history of the Trojan War and the royal Atrid family is the starting point. Ifigeneia in Aulis, Trojan Women, Hekabe, Agamemnon, Elektra, and Orestes are edited into one story. Age of Rage shows the mechanisms, inevitability, and hopelessness of a circle of violence.

Credits

after Euripides and Aischylos
direction Ivo van Hove
translation Gerard Koolschijn
adaptation Koen Tachelet, Ivo van Hove
dramaturgy Koen Tachelet
choreography Wim Vandekeybus
scenography and light Jan Versweyveld
kostuums An D’Huys
compositie Eric Sleichim

cast Achraf Koutet, Aus Greidanus jr., Chris Nietvelt, Gijs Scholten van Aschat, Hans Kesting, Hélène Devos, Ilke Paddenburg, Janni Goslinga, Jesse Mensah, Maarten Heijmans, Majd Mardo, Maria Kraakman, and Selin Akkulak
dancers Bai Li Wiegmans, Katharina Ludwig and Emma Hanekroot
music performed by BL!NDMAN [drums] Hannes Nieuwlaet, Yves Goemaere, Ward Deketelaere

assistant director Daniël 't Hoen, Rosemintje Verpaalen – Weijts, Konstantinos Vasilakopoulos (intern), Lisaboa Houbrechts (intern)
assistant dramaturgy Simone van der Steen (intern)
assistant scenography Bart Van Merode, Django Walon, Renée Faveere (intern)
assistant video Coen Bouman, Arjen Klerkx
assistant music George Dhauw
assistant choreography Laura Aris Álvarez, Rob Hayden
assistant costumes Rosa Schützendorf
head of the technical department Reyer Meeter
production leader Inge Zeilinga,Michiel van Schijndel
head of the artistic bureau Ulrike Bürger Bruijs
Assistant Production Eva Sol
technical producer Joost Verlinden
technical staff Sebastiaan Kruijs (first stage manager), Kevin Cuyvers, Paul van der Zouwe, Pepijn van Beek, Emile Bleeker, Erwin Sterk, Timo Merkies, Dennis van Scheppingen, Ruud de Vos, Danne Hekman, Mark Thewessen, Manon van den Nouland, Zinzi Kemper, Tim Vleugel, Sander van Elteren and Wim Wildenbeest (intern)
costume department Wim van Vliet (head), Farida Bouhbouh, Renske Kraakman
hair & make-up David Verswijveren, Mirjam Venema
tailor Claudia Pellegrini, Karianne Hoenderderkamp
singing coach Mirjam van Dam
set construction Fiction Factory
photography Fabian Calis
graphic design Sara Fortuin
catering Ingrid Mulder and Esther Doesburg
publicity Iris Istha
with thanks to Bart van den Eynde, Marije de Bruin, Wouter van der Hoeven, Marcel van Lent ‘fine shoe repair’, and huisartsenpraktijk Rivierenbuurt

coproducer Holland Festival; Bl!ndman; La Villette, Paris
private producer Helga Lasschuijt and Dirk Raes, Gabriella de Rooij and Hendrik Jan ten Have, Marius de Vos and Gary Carter, Anna Wouters and Esther Kwaks
with support from Ammodo
realized with the support of the Johannes Vermeer Award

'It is the story of years of war and how its consequences as an ineradicable cancer have a profound and long-lasting effect on families and society. But also a story about violence today and about  radicalization. 

We see how faced with major problems, leaders turn to murder and revenge rather than deliberation. A royal family that runs the country but never comes to a vision or approach for a better future. A dark,  grand, and universal story.'

IVO VAN HOVE

The press said

'Terrifyingly beautiful dance and music make Age of Rage more than just a bloodthirsty spectacle.' - Trouw ★★★★

'A rare physical and passionate performance.' - De Groene Amsterdammer

'The physical commitment of the actors, who play, play music, sing and dance in the mud is awe-inspiring.' - De Volkskrant ★★★

'Dark master marathon' - AD ★★★★

ELEKTRA /ORESTE (2019)

Laura was the choreographer’s assistant and movement coach of Elektra/Orestes, a performance directed by Ivo Van Hove with choreography by Wim Vandekeybus. A production of Comedie Francaise in Paris, France, in collaboration with Athens & Epidaurus Festival, in Greece.  

Premiered on April 27th of 2019 at Comedie Francaise, Richelieu, Paris.

Artistic team

Translation Marie Delcourt-Curvers
Stage version Bart Van den Eynde et Ivo van Hove
Mise en scène Ivo van Hove
Scénography et light designer Jan Versweyveld
Costumes An D’Huys
Original music and sound concept Eric Sleichim
Choreographic work Wim Vandekeybus
Dramaturgie Bart Van den Eynde
Director’s assistant Laurent Delvert
Scenography’s assistant Roel Van Berckelaer
Choreographic work’s assistant Laura Aris
Costumes’s assistant Sylvie Lombart
Light designer’s assistant François Thouret
Sound assistant Pierre Routin

With the actors of Comédie-Française: Claude Mathieu (Coryphaeus), Cécile Brune (chorus), Sylvia Bergé (chorus), Éric Génovèse (Phrygian slave), Bruno Raffaelli (old Mycenaean man), Denis Podalydès (Menelaus), Elsa Lepoivre (Clytemnestra / Helen), Julie Sicard (Chorus), Loïc Corbery (Pylades), Suliane Brahim (Electra), Benjamin Lavernhe (Mycenaean man), Didier Sandre (Tyndaerus), Christophe Montenez (Orestes), Rebecca Marder (Hermione), Gaël Kamilindi (Apollo).
And the actors of L' Académie de la Comédie-Française: Peio Berterretche (Aegisthus), Pauline Chabrol, Olivier Lugo, Noémie Pasteger, Léa Schweitzer (Chorus)
and live music interpreted by Adélaïde Ferrière, Emmanuel Jacquet, Rodolphe Théry - Trio Xenakis, Othman Louati, Romain Maisonnasse, Benoît Maurin (percussions)

More info about Comédie Française

SALOME (2017)

Laura Aris was dance coach and choreographer's assistant for the Richard Strauss masterpiece Salome, directed by Ivo Van Hove, with choreography by Wim Vandekeybus and conductor Daniele Gatti (Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra) at Dutch National Opera & Ballet in Amsterdam. 

Premiered June 2017.

CREDITS

Conductor Daniele Gatti
Stage Director Ivo van Hove
Set and Lighting Designer Jan Versweyveld
Costume Designer An D'Huys
Video Designer Tal Yarden
Choreographic work Wim Vandekeybus
Dramaturg Jan Vandenhouwe
Assistant choreography and movement’s couch of Malin Byström (Salmone) Laura Aris
Orchestra Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Herodes: Lance Ryan, Herodias: Doris Soffel, Salome: Malin Byström, Jochanaan: Evgeny Nikitin, Narraboth: Peter Sonn and Attilio Glaser, Ein Page der Herodias: Hanna Hipp, Fünf Juden: Dietmar Kerschbaum, Marcel Reijans Mark Omvlee, Marcel Beekman, Alexander Vassiliev, Zwei Nazarener: James Creswell, Roger Smeets, Zwei Soldaten, James Platt, Alexander Milev, Ein Cappadocier: Michael Wilmering.

More info

The press said

“The most impressive part of the production is the work of the choreographer, none other than the Flemish Wim Vandekeybus, famous for his mischievous pieces.” - Concertnet

“Vocally, the cast is convincing and Malin Byström's take on the role is sure to leave its mark. The singer has a beauty that is totally in keeping with the character she portrays. She is remarkable in the 'Dance of the Seven Veils', where you are convinced that a real dancer is performing before you.” - Resmusica Sylvain Rouvroy

Press reviews

concertonet.com
bachtrack.com
resmusica.com
olyrix.com
plateamagazine.com
wanderersite.com