In the theatrical installation Dans Dans Revolutie, you enter the fictional country of Besulia, where war has broken out. The ancient tradition of the people—dancing to drive away evil—no longer seems effective. Young vlogger Anna grabs her phone and calls out to the world: dance the svaboda samoverzjenja and help us!

In a world where nearly everyone is connected and wars and revolutions are documented and broadcast in real time, Anna speaks to the international community from her small village. Together with her baba Yara, she creates instructional videos of the traditional banishment dance of the Notsjnik, the mythical guardian against evil. Their follower count keeps growing, and the videos continue to spread while the enemy draws ever closer. Until it arrives at their doorstep.

Through mobile phones, a layered soundscape, and the presence of the mythological Notsjnik, Dans Dans Revolutie transports you to Besulia, where you follow the story of Anna and baba Yara from a (gradually less) safe distance. A magical narrative set in the heart of contemporary history.

"The theatrical installation Dans Dans Revolutie is an exceptional achievement"
- Volkskrant ★★★★★

For Dans Dans Revolutie!, I developed custom software for Android devices to enable synchronized control within the installation. This included coordinated playback of audiovisual content, light activation, and haptic feedback. The phones became part of the rhythmic structure of the scenography, integrating seamlessly with lighting, sound, projection, and mobile content to form a unified composition.

Additionally, I designed a real-time sky projection system that allowed dynamic control over lighting, time-of-day transitions, and cloud coverage. This provided the scenographer with a powerful tool to shape atmosphere and spatial experience throughout the installation.

Credits

Creative Directors Lisa Weeda, BrotherTill | Text Lisa Weeda | Scenography Peter van Til | Sound Design Mathijs van Til | Business Manager Sarah Voss | Performance Isha Ferdinandus, Ria Marks | Acting Direction Naomi Steijger | Voice-over Lisa Weeda | Interactive Design Wieger Steenhuis | Motion Graphic Design Wendy van der Waal | Teaser & Video Footage Bowie Verschuuren | Set Construction Man met de Hamer & Jan Willem Wind [Nomadman] | Technical Production Ben Vrielink, Iwan Kolk & Katja Kolhorn | Music Amalia Houri | Choreography Charlice Johannes | Costume Saskia van der Klei | Film Production Maira Martinez | Production Annelies Hendrikse | With thanks to Marius Mensink, Grand Theatre Groningen, Das Haus Schulenberg