【Asia Premiere】

The Praemium Imperiale laureate performs live
A passionate and poetic tribute to a French chanson legend

Belgian singer Jacques Brel's chansons defined the 1950s and ‘60s, and their lyrics were on every young person’s lips. His songs have been covered countless times, but have never been adapted into a dance performance—until now.

BREL is the latest creation by Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, a towering figure in the international dance world for more than three decades and a recent recipient of the prestigious Praemium Imperiale—often referred to as the “Nobel Prize of the arts”. Renowned for her masterful use of music in choreography, De Keersmaeker takes on the challenge of translating Brel’s complex and dramatic world into movement, drawing inspiration from the layers of emotion and complexities in his life and work.

In BREL, De Keersmaeker will perform on stage herself, offering a rare opportunity for Hong Kong audiences to witness her live. But this is more than a solo endeavour—BREL becomes a cross-generational dialogue as De Keersmaeker partners with Solal Mariotte, a rising star from her company and a former breakdancer. Together, they craft a duet inspired by the moods, gestures and storylines characteristic of Brel’s most popular chansons, as well as the raw physicality and intense expressiveness of his iconic performances. The result is a restless, passionate and often rebellious duet that radiates a distinctive and deeply emotional atmosphere.

Meet-the-Artist session will be held after the performance on 14 Mar (Sat).

Tickets are available for purchase from 9 December 2025 at URBTIX