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ABOUT
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Jean-Baptiste is a Belgian dance artist, choreographer, and educator based in Kristiansand, Norway. Known for his powerful physicality, embodied research, and emotionally honest performance language, his work bridges contemporary dance, hip-hop foundations, and improvisational practices. His artistic mission is rooted in bringing forward unspoken taboos and collective societal wounds, creating space for reflection, transformation, and shared humanity.
After a diverse international career performing for artists and companies, Jean-Baptiste shifted his focus toward developing his own artistic voice. This led to the birth of Nabinam Dance Company, founded from his autobiographical solo Nabinam. Through NDC, he creates work that blends rigorous movement research with existential, environmental, and socially engaged themes.
Jean-Baptiste’s creations include X10… co-produced by Dansens Hus, a site-sensitive performance exploring extinction and environmental grief; Intrusive Thoughts; Good Morning, Sindre, a Nordic collaboration co-produced by CODA; and Fera, an intimate solo exploring limitation, perception, and the lived experience of his non-normative left hand. His work often integrates interdisciplinary elements such as sound sampling, live music interaction, symbolic scenography, and ritual-inspired structures.
Alongside his choreographic practice, Jean-Baptiste is deeply committed to community-building and education. He is the founder of Step Forward, a growing platform for professional dance training in Kristiansand with international reach. His teaching experience spans Europe, and his pedagogy blends creative process, movement research, improvisation, and hip-hop/contemporary foundations.
Jean-Baptiste serves on the board and artistic committee of Ravnedans, was part of the Aerowaves 23, and collaborates with a range of international partners. He is committed to nurturing young artists, facilitating spaces for growth, and contributing to a vibrant and sustainable dance ecosystem in Kristiansand and beyond.
STEP FORWARD TRAINING PROGRAM
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PROGRAM
EMPOWER YOUR DANCE JOURNEY WITHIN 10 WEEKS! WELCOME TO STEP FORWARD, WHERE DANCE MEETS EMPOWERMENT AND EVERY STEP TAKES YOU CLOSER TO INDEPENDENCE IN YOUR DANCE JOURNEY. THIS 10-WEEKS IMMERSIVE PROGRAM IS NOT JUST TRAINING; IT'S A TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCE DESIGNED TO EQUIP YOU WITH THE SKILLS AND TOOLS TO CRAFT YOUR UNIQUE DANCE STORY.
WEEKS 1-7: DANCE MASTERY FOUNDATIONS > Embark on a 7-week journey dedicated to refining your dance fundamentals in Hip-hop, contemporary and Ballet. From technique to expression, the training program will guide you towards mastery. Develop the tools you need to become the architect of your dance journey.
WEEKS 8-10: PERFORMANCE CREATION & SHOWCASE > Experience the excitement of collaborating with an international choreographer and your dance partners to create a performance. From concept to execution, witness your vision come to life, culminating in a showcase with an audience.
WEEKEND WORKSHOPS: GLOBAL INSPIRATION, PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION > Elevate your dance vocabulary with 4 weekends of 3-day workshops featuring international dance teachers/coaches. Immerse yourself in four hours of daily sessions, gaining diverse perspectives and tools to fuel your independent dance journey.
ONE WEEK OF INTENSIVE TRAINING ABROAD: > Travel abroad to take dance classes in a different community to experience a class filled with a variety of movers, to challenge your comfort zone and to bound with your dance partners.
PERSONAL MENTORSHIP WITH JEAN-BAPTISTE: Take the leap from student to artist with one-on-one mentoring sessions with Jean-Baptiste. Receive personalized guidance, insights, and strategies to become an independent force in your dance training.
SOLO SYMPHONY SESSION: CREATE YOUR OWN STORY > Empower your individuality with guided sessions to create a captivating 3-5 minute solo. These sessions are designed to give you the tools to shape your story, allowing your unique voice to shine on the dance floor.
STEP FORWARD TRAINING PROGRAM IS MORE THAN A TRAINING; IT'S AN INVITATION TO STEP INTO YOUR DANCE INDEPENDANCE. JOIN US ON THIS TRANSFORMATIVE JOURNEY WHERE EACH STEP FORWARD IS AN ACHIEVEMENT TOWARDS YOUR PERSONAL VISIONS!
THE 10 WEEKS DANCE TRAINING WILL BE DIVIDED IN BLOCS BETWEEN WEEK 06 AND WEEK 24.
THE TRAINING WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE VIBRANT STUDIOS OF KRS DANCE STUDIO IN LUND, KRISTIANSAND, NORWAY.
FULL PROGRAM ACCESS > 8000NOK - FULL ACCES TO THE 10 WEEKS OF TRAINING - FULL ACCESS TO THE 4 WEEKENDS WORKSHOP WITH INTERNATIONAL TEACHERS - PERSONAL MENTORSHIP WITH JEAN-BAPTISTE - PROFESSIONAL FOOTAGE
FLEXIBLE PASS > 6000NOK - 50% ACCESS TO THE 10 WEEKS OF TRAINING - ACCESS TO 2 OUT 4 WEEKENDS OF WORKSHOP WITH INTERNATIONAL TEACHERS - PROFESSIONAL FOOTAGE
INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOPS PASS > 5000NOK - FULL WORKSHOPS PASS - ONLY 10 SPOTS AVAILABLE
LIGHT WORKSHOPS PASS > 3000NOK - ONE CLASS PER WORKSHOP - ONLY 10 SPOTS AVAILABLE
15 SPOTS AVAILABLE FOR THIS TRAINING PROGRAM
INTERNATIONAL TEACHERS
SUBSCRIPTION
BOOK YOUR SPOT ON EMAIL VIA NABINAMPRODUCTIONS@GMAIL.COM
ONLY 15 SPOTS AVAILABLE SO BE FAST!
NABINAM DANCE COMPANY
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Jean Baptiste Baele : Artistic Director & Choreographer
Email: nabinamproductions@gmail.com
Instagram: @nabinam.co
Phone: +4740108932
NABINAM
← BACKNabinam is an auto-biographical solo piece in which the protagonist comes close to the audience to recount his adoption story. The challenges he encountered along the way unfold in his retelling, such as the constant comparison of different skin colours or being apart from a sibling. Honest with a touch of humour, Nabinam takes the audience on a roller coaster of emotions with its unpredictable changes of pace.
Nabinam is part of the 20 aerowaves pieces for 2023.
Choreographer: Jean-Baptiste Baele
Performers: Jean-Baptiste Baele, Corentin Piquard
Sound composer/live music: Corentin Piquard
Videographer: Davids Jacobs
Light designer: Johan Franklin Williams
Costumes: Cecillie Nybakk Nore
Poetry: Anastacia Hoff
Manager: Andreea Lixandrica
Outside collaborators: Mia Habib, Belinda Brazza
Project funded by: Kulturrådet, Soul session Encounters, Bærum Kulturhus.
X10...
← BACKNavigating the boundaries between vulnerability and resilience, adapting and giving in, X10... delves into these dichotomies, offering a contemplative exploration of the delicate balance between survival and oblivion. The stage becomes a microcosm of the human experience, where every step echoes with the weight of consequence.
Set against the backdrop of displacement, it follows the journey of a being navigating a new society and learning its codes. With three bodies and wooden blocks on stage, the narrative unfolds through different acts: Displacement, Decision making, Factory Works,Playground Games, and Human Interactions.
Through anchored hip-hop and contemporary body language, as well as a strong sense of storytelling supported by the physical craft of the three dancers, choreographer Jean-Baptiste Baele aims to spotlight humanity's toxic impact on the environment and its consequences for all living beings. The piece underscores the urgency of addressing environmental challenges such as climate change, pollution, and deforestation.
Choreographer: Jean-Baptiste Baele
Dancers: Claúdio Fernandez, Sindre Sten Eriksson Vik, Jean-Baptiste Baele
Music/Composition: Even Sefenias Sigurdsen Frodesønn Røstad
Scenography: Jean-Baptiste Baele, Rehab Sør
Lights/Manager: Andreea Lixandrica
Dramaturge: Nicolai Abraham Lopez
Funded by: Kulturradet, Scenekunst Sør, Cultiva Ekspress, Kristiansand Kommune
GOOD MORNING, SINDRE
(work in progress)
What exactly are we trying to preserve when we refuse to let go of a loved one? In a gripping and deeply personal duet, we follow a close relationship that gradually fades away due to Alzheimer's — a disease that steals movements, memories, and identity.
Good morning, Sindre is a powerful, visual, and deeply personal dance performance that hits right in the heart. On stage, we meet three bodies in an open space: Jean Baptiste Baele himself, and dancers Maxime De Boeck and Lisha Chen. Together, they invite us into a touching universe where memories and identity are woven together through physical interaction and presence. The trio is an expression of both sorrow and love, and the attempt to hold on to what is disappearing. Through movement and body language, the fight to preserve memories and identity is conveyed, and the performance raises important questions about what we truly preserve when we refuse to let go.
Jean-Baptiste Baele explores how we move, interact, and carry history in our bodies. He creates powerful and moving performances that resonate with audiences regardless of background.
Good morning, Sindre is a performance for all who have experienced longing, wondered about the power of memory, or tried to hold on to something, or someone, who is in the process of disappearing. The performance is a warm tribute to humanity and love.
Choreographer: Jean-Baptiste Baele
Dancers: Maxime Deboeck, Lisha Chen, Jean-Baptiste Baele
Music Composition: Even Sigurdsen Røstad, Clara Cozzolino
Lighting Design: Ingunn Fjellang Saether, Even Sigurdsen Røstad
Collaborator: Justin De Jager
Co-production: CODA Oslo International Dance Festival, Europe Beyond Access
Supported by Kulturrådet, Scenekunst Sør, Fond for utøvende kunstnere, Creative Europe, Cultiva
FERA
(work in progress)
Fera explores the transformative potential of physical difference and creative expression. The work delves into how limitations—whether physical, emotional, or societal—can serve as catalysts for resilience and innovation. Inspired by the primal energy and instinctive creativity that emerge when boundaries are challenged, Fera examines the interplay between vulnerability and strength, structure and chaos.
The piece draws on themes of adaptation and transformation, weaving together grounded floorwork, improvisation, and asymmetrical dynamics to uncover raw, untamed movement. Through this exploration, Fera reflects on the universal experience of confronting challenges and embracing individuality as a source of power.
By celebrating the wild, instinctual aspects of human expression, Fera invites audiences to reconsider the narratives around difference and limitation. It highlights the ability of dance to transcend barriers, offering a visceral and transformative journey into the untamed potential within us all.
Choreographer: Jean-Baptiste Baele
Co-production: O Espaço do Tempo
Funded by Kulturradet, Scenekunst Sør, Europe beyond access, Culture moves Europe
To be premiered in DansensHus Oslo
VIDEO GALLERY
← BACKNorway's Got Talent
Nabinam Trailer
NEWS
← BACKUnder Construction