Hugs, 4+ - hetpaleis & ROCKY/Femke Heijens & Marieke Dilles

He likes to sit on his couch She has her dog Becoming friends, how do you do that? With strange moves and crooked turns. The beat sets them in motion. Do they find each other? To the beats of Hannes d’Hoine, Femke Heijens and Marieke Dilles create a wordless world. HUGS is a playful, visual performance about loneliness, (in)tolerance, and friendship. With few words, lots of music, movement, and visual language, two strangers experience the ups and downs of making a new friendship. At first glance, the two characters have little in common, but they still engage in the game of attraction and repulsion. Their approach is awkward, moving, and recognizable for both children and adults. Making friends is not always easy. Sometimes it goes clumsily, sometimes we make mistakes. HUGS reminds us that this is completely normal and often also very funny. The rhythmic beats of Hannes d’Hoine bring the performance to life and create an energy that carries the characters and the children along. Because little spoken language is used, HUGS is accessible to everyone, regardless of age or background. Perfect for young children who are learning social skills. concept & performance Marieke Dilles and Femke Heijens - coach Laurence Roothooft - music Hannes d’Hoine - © photo Wannes Cré - lighting design Karen Verhaeghe - technical production Patrick Vanderhaegen - educational framework Noriko Beyens - production ROCKY and hetpaleis - with support from the Tax Shelter of the Belgian federal government via Casa Kafka Pictures