In The Goldberg Variations, dancers Oskar Stalpaert, Michiel Vandevelde, and Audrey Merilus get to work with Bach’s famous music and Steve Paxton’s iconic dance solo from the 80’s.

The polyphony that speaks from the numerous variations in Bach’s music returns in the different layers of this dance performance. It is a reflection on the state of dance today, on the state of democracy, on the past and the future, and on different forms of physicality.

Bach on the accordion
The music is performed by Philippe Thuriot. Bach’s music was written for the harpsichord, but Thuriot translated it to the accordion. Check out a preview of his performance here.

A dancer to keep an eye on
“It’s my first dance production and I find it quite exciting. I still wonder why Michiel asked me.” – Oskar Stalpaert

Oskar Stalpaert is a dancer with Down syndrome and has been a part of Platform-K for two years. A video of him dancing in a public square in Ghent (Belgium) went viral on the internet. As soon as you see the video, you’ll know why Stalpaert was asked: he is a natural talent.

About the makers
Michiel Vandevelde started his dance career as a youngster at fABULEUS and afterwards studied at P.A.R.T.S. He is a choreographer, curator, programmer, writer and opinion-maker. His political and artistic activism is the common thread running through everything he does.

Platform-K makes professional dance productions with dancers with and without disabilities. They give dancers with a disability a contemporary dance education. With this they fill a blind spot in the Flemish stage landscape.