where the last birds stand

Two dancers explore how their bodies respond to each other as the world threatens to fall apart. They carry one another, push away, seek support, and let go. Every movement is a negotiation between resistance and surrender, holding on and letting go, protecting and fleeing. Each moment of contact reflects connection and loss. This is an ode to what is not yet gone, but already slipping away.

The performance draws inspiration from 'The Maraboes', a painting by Carel Willink, and a sculptural installation by Stéphanie Roland from the collection of Museum Arnhem. Willink’s sense of silent threat – marabous stranded under an ominous sky – meets Roland’s vision of a landscape being swallowed by the sea. Together, these works form the visual and thematic foundation of the performance.

About the artists
Peeled Collective is the artistic partnership of Emma Hanekroot and Emma Versluys. Their work is rooted in movement, with dance as a physical expression of vulnerability. They create surreal worlds where the body is central – not as an object, but as a carrier of emotion, imagery, and story. Their close collaboration results in a unique shared movement language, combining boldness with sensitivity.