Astrid De Haes is a director, choreographer, and production and business manager. Bringing people together and fostering collaboration is a cornerstone of her work. Known for her strong visual style, Astrid draws inspiration from both the imagery and the performers she works with, creating a collective and dynamic creative process.
Fascinated by dance and experimentation, Astrid completed both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Fine Arts, Autonomous Design, at the School of Arts in Ghent. There, she focused on exploring different media with the (moving) body as the central theme. To further develop her skills, she undertook an internship in 2017 at the School for New Dance Development at the Amsterdam University of the Arts.
During her Master’s studies, Astrid evolved as a director and choreographer, creating a preliminary study for the performance *Untitled 1 (An Attempt to create meaning in a space that could go completely dark)*. This piece premiered at CC Zwaneberg in Heist-Op-Den-Berg and was performed twice during *Love At First Sight* in 2021. In the same year, she created the solo performance *After All* in collaboration with dancer Pierre Bastin, which was performed twice at De Carrousel in Antwerp, the Jesuit Church in Lier, and during the Habitat Festival 2022 in Leuven. Her enduring interest in collective creation has always centered on the moving body as a creative medium to gather and share information.
In 2023 and 2024, her latest dance theater production, *Blueberries Leave Bruises on the Skin*, toured across Belgium. This project, a co-creation with writer and theater maker Mona Thijs, reflects Astrid’s continued commitment to innovative and collaborative storytelling.
From 2024 onwards, Astrid’s focus shifts to a medium that has always intrigued her: film. In this new exploration, the body remains central to her work. In 2023, she choreographed the music video *IDK* by Noonzy, as well as *The Talker*, *Cold City*, and *Walking Flying* by Whispering Sons. These latter three works are part of the short film *Balm After Violence*, which was featured at Film Fest Ghent 2023. Additionally, in 2024, she served as Movement Director for the music video *Somebody Without U* by Oscar and the Wolf.