Ultima Vez / Wim Vandekeybus

Ultima Vez is the dynamic house for contemporary dance in Sint-Jans-Molenbeek (Brussels) founded by choreographer Wim Vandekeybus. A place where production and distribution take place in optimal conditions and where creators share their artistic practices with each other and with a wide audience. The work includes the artistic creations of Wim Vandekeybus, the framework around new creators (Ulti’Mates) and our participatory activities.

Fundraiser - What the Body Does Not Remember - U.S. tour 2026-2027

In December, we begin rehearsals for the revival of What the Body Does Not Remember — the groundbreaking work that first took New York by storm in 1987 and launched Ultima Vez onto the world stage.

As we celebrate our 40th anniversary, we aim to bring this iconic piece back to the city where it all began and embark on a new U.S. tour.

Support the What the Body Does Not Remember 2026–2027 U.S. Tour and help us share four decades of fearless dance with a new generation of audiences.

Every gesture, every contribution, helps bring this work full circle.

Donate here: https://www.every.org/ultima-vez/f/what-the-body-does-not

Biography Wim Vandekeybus

Wim Vandekeybus (1963) is a Belgian choreographer, dancer, filmmaker, and founder of the company Ultima Vez (1986). His groundbreaking debut What the Body Does Not Remember (1987) earned him a Bessie Award, followed by another for Les porteuses de mauvaises nouvelles (1989). Since then, he has become a defining voice in contemporary dance, known for a visceral, physical language that fuses energy, risk, instinct, and emotion.

At the heart of Vandekeybus’ work lies a fascination with oppositions: body and mind, chaos and control, man and woman, nature and culture. His performances are driven by the question of how people respond in extreme or transformative situations. Formally, his work blurs boundaries between dance, theatre, film, music, and visual art – each element retaining its own autonomy while contributing to a powerful, theatrical whole.

Throughout his career, Vandekeybus has collaborated with musicians such as David Byrne, Marc Ribot, Charo Calvo, Thierry De Mey, Trixie Whitley, Warren Ellis, ILA, and David Eugene Edwards. He has directed several short films and a dozen dance films, as well as a feature film Galloping Mind (2015). His cinematic work – Blush and Monkey Sandwich among others – further expands his artistic language beyond the stage.

He has created works for renowned companies including Batsheva Dance Company, Rambert, Göteborg Ballet, Compania Nacional de Danza (Madrid), the Royal Swedish Ballet, Opera Ballet Vlaanderen, Residenztheater München, and Internationaal Theater Amsterdam (ITA).

Vandekeybus’ body of work spans abstract physical pieces to narrative-driven productions rooted in mythology, contemporary issues, and social reflection. Scattered Memories (2022) celebrated 35 years of Ultima Vez with a retrospective reimagining of his oeuvre, while Infamous Offspring (2023) boldly reinterpreted Greek myths through the lens of Fiona Benson’s poetry and a new generation of performers.

Awards

• 1988 – Bessie Award in New York for What the Body Does Not Remember
• 1989 – Bessie Award for Les Porteuses de mauvaises nouvelles
• 2003 – SACD Oeuvreprijs Herman Closson
• 2004 – First prize for direction of the film Blush at Kosova Infest
• 2007 – Choreography Media Honor, Directors Guild of America, Los Angeles
• 2012 – Keizer Karel Prize from the Province of East Flanders, awarded for exceptional merit in the arts and culture and for his dedication to younger generations
• 2013 – With Ultima Vez, laureate of the Evens Prize for Art, for their significant contribution to contemporary dance in Europe, their multidisciplinary work, and their social and cultural commitment
• 2020 – National Dance Awards (Critics’ Circle), Best Digital Choreography for Draw from Within (Rambert Company, London)

U.S.-based donors can make tax-deductible contributions to the** US for Ultima Vez Fund at Myriad USA. Because Myriad USA is a public charity, within the meaning of Sections 501(c)(3) and 509(a)(1) of the IRC, donors may claim the maximum tax benefits allowed by U.S. tax law for their contributions. If you wish to support us, here is how to proceed:

• Gifts by check: Address your check to Myriad USA, write** US for Ultima Vez Fund in the memo section of the check, and send it to Myriad USA at 551 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2400, New York, NY 10176
• Gifts by credit card: https://www.every.org/ultima-vez
• Gifts by wire transfer or to contribute other types of property: Contact Myriad USA via email at donations@myriadusa.org or phone (212) 713-7660.