“In our diverse and complex world, nothing connects us more than dance — the moving body. It acknowledges our shared vulnerabilities and our common human condition. It also points us towards the possibility of a more inclusive world with limitless exchanges and a better understanding of new identities, a world in which simply everyone is a dancer.” -— Anouk Kruithof
Cultural phenomenon
In 2018, as part of her wide-ranging research project, Kruithof studied dance as a worldwide cultural phenomenon. With her team of helpers from around the world she collected 32 hours of video footage from YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram, covering over a thousand dance styles from 196 different countries. Each of the researchers would enter the same key words into their search engines, but due to their geographical distribution they all arrived at different search results, varying from the Cuban abakúa and the Argentinian tango to the Zimbabwean sungura, and the German zwiefacher. They furthermore came across dancing animals and virtual figures, such as avatars and creatures from video games.
Joy of living
The result is an exhilarating video installation with a four-hour choreography on each of its eight screens, featuring a wide variety of dance styles for solo dancers, pairs, and groups. The various forms of expression in this kaleidoscope of virtuosity, joie de vivre, and ritual performance make Universal Tongue an experience that is as moving as it is fascinating.
Be sure to visit the Universal Tongue website where the full scope of the project is extensively showcased.
About your visit
Frequently Asked Questions
Skip listThe Kunsthal is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 17:00 hrs. The Kunsthal Café opens half an hour earlier, so you can visit from 9:30 hrs until half an hour after closing time. Check the current opening hours.
Yes, you need to book a ticket with a start time in advance. This also applies if you have a Museum card, Rotterdam pass, or VriendenLoterij VIP Card. This way, you are guaranteed admission and we can ensure that your visit is as pleasant as possible. Book your start time.
Yes, with an online ticket, you can visit all the exhibitions that are on display on the date of your visit. You can also stay as long as you like. You are welcome at the Kunsthal from your designated start time until closing time. Book your start time.
In de Kunsthal Rotterdam zijn altijd meerdere wisselende en contrastrijke tentoonstellingen tegelijk te zien. Een volledig overzicht van alle actuele tentoonstellingen vind je op de tentoonstellingspagina.