CPPM lecture: Wim Vandekeybus. ULTIMA VEZ (Belgium) • CPPM LECTURES 2025

The CPPM LECTURE is a new lecture series where world-renowned guest artists visiting the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre’s international Master’s programme in Contemporary Physical Performance Making (CPPM) discuss their creative work and pedagogy and introduce their current creative projects. It is a rare opportunity to gain insight into the artistic world of these highly esteemed and recognised artists worldwide.

WIM VANDEKEYBUS

Wim Vandekeybus (b. 1963) is a Belgian choreographer, dancer, filmmaker, and photographer who founded his company Ultima Vez in the mid-1980s. He burst onto the international scene with his debut piece What the body does not remember(1987), which won a Bessie Award for groundbreaking work; his second production, Les porteuses de mauvaises nouvelles (1989), received the same distinction. Over the past few decades, Vandekeybus has established himself as a trailblazer in contemporary dance, creating performances that challenge boundaries both at home and abroad.

Known for his visceral and high-energy style, Vandekeybus explores the clash between intuition and intellect, the physical and the emotional, and the tension between individuals and groups. Central to his work is the idea of how humans respond to extreme situations—what he calls “the moment of catastrophe.” Despite these intense themes, he also weaves elements of humor and playfulness into his choreography, showcasing an ever-present duality that lies at the heart of his performances.

Throughout his career, Vandekeybus has pursued a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating music, film, and theatrical narrative into his dance works. He has collaborated with renowned musicians including David Byrne, Marc Ribot, and Trixie Whitley, and created short films such as Blush (2004) and Monkey Sandwich (2013) that often stand on their own. Always seeking new forms, his work has evolved from purely physical explorations to more elaborate narratives, exemplified by adaptations of classical tragedies and collaborations with contemporary writers. Even as he expands his storytelling scope, Vandekeybus’s bold, dynamic choreography remains rooted in the raw power of the moving body.

ULTIMA VEZ

Ultima Vez is a dance company that was established in the mid-eighties by Wim Vandekeybus, a choreographer, dancer, filmmaker, and photographer. The company showcases Vandekeybus’s unique style of movement, which explores themes such as the conflict between body and mind, feeling and intellect, and group and individual. His performances are dynamic and full of conflict, exemplifying a language of movement that contrasts intuition, impulse, and instinct with energy, risk, and danger.

Vandekeybus’s performances take the form of associative montages that cross borders between disciplines while maintaining their strong-rooted autonomy. Live music and video/film are integrated into his theatrical expression, often serving as the driving force behind the performances. Vandekeybus has collaborated with several musicians, including Thierry De Mey, Peter Vermeersch, and David Byrne. He has also created short films like Blush and Monkey Sandwich, as well as his first feature film, Galloping Mind.

Over time, Vandekeybus has developed a stronger narrative style that presents coherent fables with a broader scope, frequently revolving around community, individuals, and conflict. His recent work, including Mockumentary of a Contemporary Saviour and TrapTown, reveals his profound concern about the current global political state. Every one of Vandekeybus’s performances marks his quest for new forms rooted in the essential energy of the body itself. Ultima Vez’s performances are highly acclaimed, not only in Belgium but also around the world.