The Wonder Of It All
Through our bodies we shape the world around us, along the bodies of other beings on this planet. Through circling and spiralling movements, centripetal and centrifugal forces, we weave the fabric of togetherness. We dance the dance of reverence and joy, summoning the wisdom of the elders as well as the playfulness of the child, all aspects of our being.
The Wonder Of It All wants to awaken qualities which are inherent to human nature, but which are not nurtured by our current culture. These qualities are the recognition and celebration of multidimensional oneness, equality, playfulness, wonder and even ecstasy and ritualistic devotion. Reality seen through the lens of these qualities creates a sense of connection and hope, much needed in times of polarisation and ecological, political and economic turmoil.
We are the echoes of a movement set in motion by someone else to which we respond, we are the receivers of sounds which, channelled through us, transform into another song. We are no different from songbirds and the rustling tree leaves. We simply are, existing! We are not only part of something larger, we are the larger thing in itself.
Daniel calls his methodology for creating ‘living dance’.
“I prefer the term “living dance” instead of “choreography”. It is much closer to the reality of the human body to perceive our organism as part of a living dynamism and flow, rather than as an object to be written. This does not mean I abandon all composition. With the dancers, we work verbally and non-verbally on our intentions and imaginations to allow the dance to unfold in an organic way. I want to let the life within each dancer live, I want to let it express itself. “
This text is part of the essay ‘Reflections, Reverberations, Pulsations – The Wonder Of It All’ by Elisa Demarré. Click here to read the full essay.
The Wonder Of It All is a performance for five dancers, created by and with Daniel Linehan.
Premiere on October 2, 2025, at STUK Leuven.
October 2025
Choreographer/dancer Daniel Linehan
Dancers Gorka Gurrutxaga Arruti, Daniel Linehan, Anne Pajunen, Souleymane Sanogo, Louise Tanoto
Dramaturg Elisa Demarré
Music Rutger Zuydervelt
Scenography Ugo Woatzi
Assistant scenography Cassandra Cristin
Light design Ofer Smilansky
Costumes Frédérick Denis
Production Hiatus
Coproduction Charleroi Danse
Residency BUDA Kunstencentrum, Charleroi Danse, STUK Huis voor dans, beeld en geluid
Hiatus is supported by the Flemish authorities and Tax Shelter of the Belgian authorities.
In partnership with BOS+, Hiatus contributes to the reforestation of our planet.
