Hildegard De Vuyst

“Late ’94, I made my first tentative steps as a dramaturge, working for Het muziek Lod. When Lod started a coproduction in ’95 with les ballets C de la B for La Tristeza Complice, this was to launch a longstanding collaboration with director Alain Platel. I’m very proud of Iets op Bach, Wolf and vsprs, pitié!, Out of Context– for Pina, C(H)OEURS, tauberbach, nicht schlafen and Requiem pour L., Mein Gent en Ombra.

As a freelancer, I also worked with different choreographers from the same stable: Koen Augustijnen (To crush time) and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui (Rien de rien).
In 2001, life took on a fresh turn: the Koninklijke Vlaamse Schouwburg (KVS for short) in Brussels came under new management and I started work there as a dramaturge. The challenge to turn this dormant repertory theatre into a lively place that would attract the whole city was considerable. The efforts we brought to bear were enormous and the satisfaction was duly proportionate.

But every time Platel called, I went. It is also Alain Platel’s 'fault' that I went to Palestine for the very first time in 2004. It has led to PASS (Performing Arts Summer School) a long term project that I coordinate with young Palestinian performers in collaboration with KVS, les ballets C de la B and the A.M. Qattan Foundation in Ramallah.
Since September 2016 I joined the team of les ballets C de la B and was as dramaturge also part of the Festival de Marseille (till 2021).

I also managed the residency programme of les ballets C de la B (Co-laBo) and put my full weight behind the transition that led to a new start as laGeste in 2023. At laGeste, I carry the artistic direction and regularly act as dramaturge: of Vake Poes or how God disappeared by Lisaboa Houbechts, of O Amor Natural by Andrew Graham and hopefully many more.

update: 02/2024