Infos pratiques
Location
Studio Varia
Duration
± 40 minutes
Languages
Français
Prices

Pay what you can

€10 / €13 / €17 / €22 / €27 

Public
Ages 8 and over
Accessibility
pmr accompagnant
pmr
14—17.10.2026

Life isn’t useful

(or that's just how it is)

Bruno Freire &
Entropie Production

Danse
Revoir

A sensitive and powerful dance inspired by the words of Ailton Krenak, inviting us to imagine a different way of inhabiting the world and to marvel at the fact that we are alive.

Dates and Times

Tickets
Tickets
Tickets
Tickets

Summary

*Life Is Not Useful (Or So It Is)* is a dance-based lecture, born out of the encounter between choreographer Bruno Freire and the writings of Ailton Krenak, one of the most important political voices in contemporary Brazil. In his book *Life Is Not Useful*, Krenak asserts that life is an experience of wonder, which cannot be reduced to its utilitarian dimension. Haunted by the power of these words, Bruno Freire dances to Krenak’s text as if to a musical score, inviting us – through a unique listening experience – to feel it in our very bones. 

A philosopher and indigenous activist, Ailton Krenak offers a critique of contemporary urban society. Convinced that it is more urgent to listen to those who care for the forest rather than those who destroy it, Bruno Freire takes us into the heart of his questioning. How can we face the climate crisis without succumbing to anxiety and melancholy? Letting himself be carried by the sound and meaning of the words, he brings Krenak’s thoughts to life, initiating a dance to ward off the end of the world.  

Life is not useful (or so it seems) is the second part of a diptych in which the artist explores the theme of the marvellous. Alone in the middle of a minimalist stage, he gives form and voice to a deeply moving reflection on life. By confronting us with the devastation wrought by Western society, he challenges our habits as ‘devourers of the planet’.  What if it were the very pointlessness of life that made it so precious? What if the sole purpose of our time on Earth were simply to be alive? 

 

La vie n'est pas utile / Bruno Freire
La vie n'est pas utile / Bruno Freire
Werner Strouven
Cast






Concept, choreography and performance by Bruno Freire
Based on texts by Ailton Krenak Sound design by Tomas Monteiro
Assistant directors: Robson Ledesma, Manon Santkin Lighting design: Laura Salerno Lighting technician: Nixon Fernandes
Provocations: Cristian Duarte Dramaturgical consultation: Anna Czapski and Anna Teixeira Text translation assistance: Anna Czapski (French), Roz Whytes (English) 

Credits



Produced by Stephanie Bouteille, Pierre-Laurent Boudet and Lucille Belland for Entropie Production Executive production by La Balsamine
A two-part co-production with Charleroi danse, the Wallonia–Brussels Choreographic Centre, Théâtre de la Balsamine, La Cigalière, Dance Department of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, taxshelter.be, ING, Belgian Federal Government Tax Shelter With the support of Wallonie-Bruxelles International, European Union Culture Moves Europe, Wallonie-Bruxelles Théâtre-Danse
Residencies BAM International Festival (Siby/Bamako - Mali), KRAAK-Santarcangelo International Festival (It), Workspacebrussels (Be), BUDA Kunstencentrum (Be), La Cigalière (Fr), Varia — Théâtre & Studio (Be)
Special thanks to Tarina Quelho, Thiago Alixandre, Calixto Neto, Breno Caetano, Zé Fernando, Louise Cardon, Cao Guimarães 

 

Tour dates

Warsaw Theatre Meeting, Dramatyczny Theatre (Warsaw, Poland) 17 June 2026
 

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