What we do
Grand Cru Global reinforces dance companies and strengthens their talents with high-quality dance theater performances that focus on a rich exchange between cultures, dance styles and traditions. We use dance and theater as tools to create awareness about behavior and human rights. Performances address pressing social issues such as sexual rights, gender equality, poverty, identity, violence, trauma and conflict. The audience is drawn into a moving experience that brings social dilemmas to life, stimulates emotions and leaves a deep impression.
By depicting sensitive topics with dance, we engage the audience and give them space for their own association, reflection, and forming an opinion. This form of communication works extremely effectively in stimulating social awareness in countries with deep-rooted dance culture. This exceptional concept of mass communication challenges existing patterns of thought, behavior, and power structures, contributes to trauma healing, and increases the resilience of communities. In its own unique way, Grand Cru Global strengthens the cultural sector as a springboard to a better future for all.
The power of this work has not gone unseen: In 2020, Grand Cru Global was awarded the NUFFIC IMPACT AWARD.
Growth Trajectories
Grand Cru Global offers two types of development paths:
- We contribute to fortifying local talents into dance artists with social commitment.
- We guide dance artists in their process of becoming professional makers.
Trajectories are customized based on the partner’s request and vary in duration and intensity. In a project both trajectories can follow each other, but they can also be offered separately.
THE PROCESS TO BECOME A SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS DANCE ARTIST
Training and performance are designed and performed with a company of young dancers, actors and musicians. Trainees are confronted with personal perceptions and creatively challenged to reflect on traditions and social problems. Finding their own position in this and seeking the path to change within their community. Together we go through a creative, educational and explorative process in which social and personal challenges are translated into vivid images. During this process we work simultaneously on strengthening contemporary dance techniques, improvisation, composition and storytelling about gender and human rights. Each participant becomes mentally and technically stronger through the power of dance. Together, the participants transform themselves into versatile dance artists who make a valuable contribution to their community.
When the production is ready we go on tour. After each show, the performers facilitate an after-performance discussion where the audience exchanges and discusses perspectives on the theme. This approach leads to a mindset change through which the multidisciplinary artists become ambassadors and move people to social action literally and figuratively.
THE PROCESS TO BECOME A PROFESSIONAL MAKER
After the dance artist trajectory, we offer a follow-up program in which professional dancers gain experience in creating their own performance. Topics include storytelling, composition, dramaturgy and choreography on the one hand, and didactics, human rights and social awareness on the other. The final product of a professional maker’s journey is a fully self-produced performance. This transformative experience gives the new maker perspectives and is often a springboard to new opportunities and projects. A significant proportion of our alumni are now in demand creators, all of whom bring about their own (social) impact. In this way, our work spreads like a wildfire.
The power of dance
Dance is a powerful tool for promoting social awareness and breaking glass ceilings and taboos both for individuals and the wider society:
IMPACT ON THE INDIVIDUAL: SELF-EXPRESSION, EMPOWERMENT, AND OVERCOMING CHALLENGES
Dance contributes to emotional well-being and coping with difficult situations. It enables people to express their emotions, thoughts and stories through movement. It is a direct form of self-expression, communicating and connecting with others in a unique and non-verbal way. Dance helps people find their voice and speak out about issues that affect them.
Dance also requires discipline, dedication and perseverance and helps people develop resilience, determination and the ability to overcome physical and mental challenges. Getting to know the power and sensitivity of your body helps to develop a positive self-image independent of prevailing traditional relationships and opinions. For example in cases of oppression of women, children and marginalized groups. Dance can provide a stage on which these groups mobilize and share their experiences with others to claim space and their own identities. This promotes feelings of self-confidence and self-worth and has a positive impact on other aspects of their lives.
INFLUENCE IN SOCIETY: BUILDING BRIDGES THROUGH STORYTELLING
Dance offers the opportunity to use images and metaphors to make sensitive topics and social problems discussable without direct confrontation. The audience has the space to form their own associations and their own ideas about what they see. This allows sensitive subjects to be brought to the attention in a nuanced way. Because dance is a form of nonverbal communication, it does not require any specific language or literacy skills. More important is the ability to read physical expression, a skill we call “physical literacy”. In countries with ancient dance traditions, this is often very well developed. Therefore, it is precisely here that dance can serve as a powerful tool to raise awareness, stimulate conversation and contribute to positive change in society. Integrating traditional dance into a performance, alongside contemporary dance forms, is a vital link to creating meaning for the audience.
Our values and principles are inspired in part by Augusto Boal(), Paolo Freire() and Eugenio Barba().