The Rite of Spring, at the City of Wings Festival.
We arrived in Belgium on Sunday, April 6th. Ypres is a stunning and historic town, full of charm with its beautiful market square, delicious chocolate shops, and inviting restaurants around every corner. From the moment we arrived, the festival team took such great care of us—providing rehearsal space and meals throughout the week as we prepared for our opening performance on Friday night.
The weather was glorious all week—sunshine and clear blue skies welcomed us each day, and we certainly got our steps in exploring the town!
Friday marked our first performance and the official opening of the festival. The audience began filling the seats a full 30 minutes before the show—anticipation was high. The dancers, along with Seeta, were buzzing with excitement, especially as it was their first outdoor performance of the year. And wow—what a reception! The audience erupted in applause, and Seeta was called back for a second wave of cheers.
We followed up with two performances on Saturday and two more on Sunday. Our final show on Sunday drew the biggest crowd of the weekend—people were standing, jostling for the best view, and surrounding the stage from all sides. The atmosphere was electric, and the weather could not have been more perfect. What a way to end the weekend!
The dancers gave it their all throughout the week, and by Sunday evening, the energy and excitement were still riding high. While some had to travel home straight after the final show, others stayed to share a meal with the festival director, fellow companies, and programmers.
It was an amazing and truly rewarding start to our 2025 outdoor season—we can’t wait for the next one!
Picture by Stefan Vanwildemeersch