Larbi
An ode to resilience
Larbi
Each spring, Introdans presents the work of a single choreographer in a special focus programme. In 2026, the spotlight is on leading choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui. LARBI is an exploration of Cherkaoui’s signature as a creator — but also an ode to resilience. His virtuosic dance language, musicality, and boldness to embrace stillness are a natural fit with Introdans. His versatile and often poetic way of working resonates from Arnhem to Los Angeles. International icons like Beyoncé and Madonna have also collaborated with this Flemish-Moroccan top choreographer. The evening features the ballets Fall, In Memoriam, and Crash. Especially for this focus programme, Cherkaoui is creating new versions of both Fall and Crash for Introdans.
“We speak the same (dance) language. That’s the essence of our collaboration with Larbi. With seven of his choreographies already in our repertoire, it’s high time to put him in the spotlight,” – says Artistic Director Roel Voorintholt.
About the choreographer
Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui is unmatched in his ability to translate powerful themes such as otherness, collectivity, the search for identity, faith, and longing into compelling stories — all expressed through a poetic and often hypnotic dance style. He weaves together a wide range of dance forms and has created works for numerous renowned dance companies and theatres around the world.
Larbi will premiere on 20 March 2026 at Stadsschouwburg Utrecht.
Performance period: 20 March – 4 June 2026
Tour locations: Utrecht, Enschede, Veenendaal, Rotterdam, Oss, Arnhem, Cuijk, Haarlem, Almere, Amersfoort, Amstelveen, Doetinchem, Maastricht, Leverkusen, Apeldoorn, Zwolle, Den Bosch, Tilburg, Kerkrade, Groningen, Wageningen, Winterswijk, Amsterdam.
Agenda
Larbi
Pictures
Programme
Fall
Fall refers both to the falling and changing autumn leaves and to the ongoing struggle of the (dancer’s) body with gravity. In this piece, Cherkaoui creates featherlight duets alongside large-scale group sections. Set to meditative music by Arvo Pärt, he sculpts with the dancers as if they were clay. This choreography from the Introdans repertoire is a celebration of pure dance.
In Memoriam
This contemporary masterpiece about loss and remembrance is intense. It serves as a tribute to the choreographer’s ancestors. Rustling skirts and fast-paced video projections drive the dancers forward in this meditative performance.
Crash
For dancer/choreographer Marc Brew, a car accident changed his life radically in a split second. Now, in Crash, he shares his resilience in his own unique way. How do you keep dancing when your body is out of balance? Introdans presents a new adaptation of this inclusive choreography, focusing on the exploration of Brew’s new physical reality.