Jakobe Geens
Jakobe is a visually oriented circusartist, who focuses on sculpting atmospheres in an array of ways. After studying in the Netherlands (Acapa) and Sweden (DOCH), she is now based in Antwerp. Her departure for creating material is the concept of transformation and metamorphosis. This is often connected with the use of a costume piece, which in itself proposes a transformation of one’s physical presence - adapting to the costume can limit but also enrich the possibilities of movement. Movement is Jakobe’s language, and in this it can be very abstract or theatrical. Together with Margot Jansens, she created the company GEDACHTEGANG. In her performance distort the body, she plays in her gender bender playgarden, and in BLOOT, a performance that will premiere in october 2022, they research the veiling and unveiling of the female body in the public space. This public space is yet another component that is inspiring and important to explore for Jakobe: How to take up space? How does gender relate to claiming space and getting space? Her graduation act, S P A C E M A K E R , takes us into transformative states of the body through a series of expressions evoking the power, fear, and melancholia of an animal-female-jester.
Distort the Body
In Distort the Body, gender norms are questioned. This happens on the basis of costumes designed by the Swedish Linnea Mattei. These costumes are an absurd magnification of the typically feminine and masculine characteristics. Giant breasts, a small waist for the woman, and broad shoulders and overdeveloped calves for the man.
Expanding these outward features reveals societal expectations and their limitations. Jakobe examines the literal physical limits of this borrowed body on the basis of her acrobatic background, which she acquired in Acapa (Tilburg) and Doch (Stockholm - a world-renowned circus university within the circus world).
Jakobe Geens performing ‘Distort the Body’
How does an exciting pencil skirt or a disproportionate bosom influence a handstand or walkover, but also the daily activities of a woman? How wide should it run so that the prosthetic “men's calves” don't rub against each other? What happens if you start messing with the standards? If you put things in a different perspective? If you exhibit yourself as a person? Searching for it, feeling comfortable in your own skin or not, thinking “Am I animalistic”, “Do I come from Mars”, “Am I some sort of superhero”? Or Just very human?
Jakobe thus tries to make the spectator aware of their own gender-specific expectations by extracting the costume pieces from their related gender.
In this way, she makes the difference clear between the construction and the material being of the body. The performance would be accompanied by a live pianist.
Jakobe Geens performing ‘Distort the Body’
Concept and performance: Jakobe Geens
Production and dramaturg: Margot Jansens
Costumes: Linea Mattei
Coaching: Mat Voorter
Music: Aram Abgaryanvoor/ KRANKK
Supporting partners: Danspunt, Theater Froefroe, De Machinerie en Festival Circolo
R U I M T E M A K E R/ S P A C E M A K E R
The piece entitled ‘R U I M T E M A K E R’ takes us into transformative states of the body through a series of expressions evoking the power, fear, and melancholia of an animal-female-jester.
concept/choreography/performer: Jakobe Geens Image: Jakob Rosseel
Music: Eugene Rocque
With special thanks to circuscentrum
More info about the act: geensjakobe@gmail.com © Jakobe Geens
Upcoming events
Carrousel
July 11 in Antwerp ‘Distort the body’
Festival Circolo
Summer 2021 around Tilburg (The Netherlands) in a corona proof setting for pension homes, dates are still in negotiation
De Warande
September 11 at ‘plein de cirq’ in Turnhout
Festival Perplex
Premiere of BLOOT in oktober 2022 at festival Perplex
