Welcome to Asbestos Hall
12-29 June, Likeminds
Welcome to Trajal Harrell's studio! Together with his dancers and invited designers and musicians the associate artist of the Holland Festival 2025 will transform Likeminds in Amsterdam-Noord into a dynamic, creative space for experimentation, rehearsal and presentation. Step inside, take it all in and discover what’s unfolding there.
The spirit of Asbestos Hall
Since 2013, Trajal Harrell has explored the relationship between modern dance and butoh, the post-war Japanese dance form developed by Tatsumi Hijikata and Kazuo Ohno. In 1962, Hijikata formed Asbestos Hall in Tokyo, which would go on to be a legendary meeting place for avant-garde artists from all disciplines. In Welcome to Asbestos Hall Harrell brings the spirit of Asbestos Hall to life.
Visits, guest performances, workshops and more...
Harrell will be working with his dancers during the day, while in the evening they will perform for an audience during so-called ‘Visits’. Visitors are welcome at Likeminds from Tuesday through Sunday during the day, in the evening and at night. Besides the presentation of Harrell’s work, there’s always something going on: from workshops and discussions to performances by guest artists, films, book presentations, pop-up events and house DJs. Check the agenda below.
Read more about Welcome to Asbestos Hall in the interview with Trajal Harrell
Ammodo is production partner and Hartwig Art Foundation is presentation partner of Welcome to Asbestos Hall.
Butoh is a minimalist and socio-politically engaged form of dance developed by choreographer Tatsumi Hijikata and dancer Kazuo Ohno. The late 1950s and early 1960s saw them turning away from Western influences and seeking a renewed Japanese identity through art.
Butoh focussed on the expression of the body and based its movement idiom on the lives of common people: the connection with nature, prayer, sleeping on a futon, working the land. It’s all about raw corporeality and emotion – uncovering deeper layers, in the dancer and audience alike.
In addition to the project Welcome to Asbestos Hall at Likeminds, Trajal Harrell will performing two times at the Stedelijk Museum, there will be a conversation with
him at De Balie, and he will talk about a film of his choice at Eye.
Caen Amour - Stedelijk Museum
Sister or He Buried the Body - Stedelijk Museum
Meet the Associate Artist: Trajal Harrell - De Balie
Dance of Darkness: butoh in film - Eye
In order to realise this exceptional project, we need your help. It costs a lot of money to present an exciting programme that can be visited by day, during the evening and at night throughout much of the festival.
Your contribution will aid us in several areas, including:
- purchasing a special floor for a guest performance;
- purchasing additional theatre lighting and sound equipment;
- setting up an online ad campaign for increasing reach and drawing visitors;
- making admission prices as accessible as possible and ensuring people of all means and backgrounds can visit Welcome to Asbestos Hall.
Please make your donation now and help us open the doors of Welcome to Asbestos Hall during the festival!
Welcome to Asbestos Hall was made possible by donations from:
Mathilde Alexandra
Kay Bing Oen
Diane Fandri
Van der Linden-Taverne
Loe van Scherpenberg Guyer
Marianne Smit
J. Sparreboom
Wolter Wefers Bettink
Helen Westerik
The Holland Festival presents performing arts for everyone who is curious and likes challenges. We can't do this without you.
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