This unique performance with jazz ensemble is recommended for adults, (spiritual) jazz lovers and children from the age of 6 and up. De Standaard: “WASCO! zindert en betovert.”

If freedom has a form, then what does it look like? WASCO! is an invitation to colour outside of the lines. An explosive action painting performance. Uninhibited, chaotic and wild. And sometimes soft.

A group of children, a few boxes of crayons, a large stockpile of paint and jazz: that is WASCO!. Ten young performers aged between 6 and 12 years of age build up from scratch a world far from that of adults. Led by a live jazz band and armed with crayons and paint brushes, they dance in a universe created on their own terms. The end result is an extraordinary painting with a nod to the action painting of Jackson Pollock.

What is dancing if not drawing in space? In WASCO!, choreographer Lisbeth Gruwez and musician Maarten Van Cauwenberghe explore the intersection of music, drawing and dance. Together with the children, they develop a soundtrack with room for unexpected actions and spontaneous outbursts.

WASCO! live: (spiritual) jazz soundtrack by Stellar Legions with music by Archie Shepp, Alice & John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, Max Roach, …

The WASCO! soundtrack sounded downright daring in its première at hetpaleis (co-producer of this show and house of theatre arts that stimulates children in their experience of art). Would this adventurous jazz even work for young people?

The answer is short, but mostly powerful: H E L L Y E A H! The pulsing (spiritual) jazz works wonderfully well. Even those who have trouble with a short attention span will rarely feel their attention wane.

Enter 2026: WASCO! becomes WASCO! live, with a real live backing band up on stage. That band is Stellar Legions, the ensemble encompassing (tenor) saxophonist Andrew Claes (STUFF.) With Stellar Legions, Claes nods to (spiritual) jazz classics by Archie Shepp, Alice & John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, Max Roach, … that already formed the WASCO! soundtrack, but now in a live and contemporary version.

Accompanying him on stage: pianist Bram Weijters (Bram Weijters' Crazy Men), drummer Klaas De Somer (Tourist LeMC, Eefje de Visser and J. Bernardt), double bass player Fré Madou, Vincent Brijs (BRZZVLL and Lucid Lucia) and trumpet player Bert Joris (Joe Lovano, Philip Catherine and Brussels Jazz Orchestra).

Credits
Concept: Lisbeth Gruwez and Maarten Van Cauwenberghe (Voetvolk)
Choreography: Lisbeth Gruwez
Sound Design: Maarten Van Cauwenberghe
Live Music: Andrew Claes, Bram Weijters, Klaas De Somer, Vincent Brijs, Bert Joris
Dance: Adriaan Winand, Gus Van Goethem, Lilith De Groof, Lara Corrias, Lily Williams, Lita Assam, Kymaisha Geduld, Madeleine Camara, Martha Van Goethem, Yahto Claes Oussehmine
Musicians: Andrew Claes, Bram Weijters, Klaas De Somer, Vincent Brijs en Bert Joris
Children’s Guide: Elisa Goossens
Artistic Assistance: Victoria Rose Roy
Helping Hand: Kaat Balfoort
Dramaturgy: Koen Haagdorens
Scenography and Lighting Design: Stef Stessel
Lighting Design: Dirk De Hooghe, Ruben Wolfs
With the Support of: the Tax Shelter measure of the Belgian Federal Government via Casa Kafka
With Thanks to: Walter Meersmans
A co-production of: MA Scene National de Montbéliard, De Bijloke, Ancienne Belgique, Jazz Middelheim