Hofesh Shechter: IN THE BRAIN
Hofesh Shechter’s new full-length work for his company Shechter II, IN THE BRAIN is an invitation to surrender to the music and be swept away in rhythm.
Part rave, part ritual, this performance – one of The Guardian’s theatre and dance picks for 2026 – sees dancers shattering the barrier between stage and audience, pulling you into a fevered, all-consuming experience that leaves you craving more.
Brought to life by the fierce, unstoppable energy of dance company Shechter II, this is a space to break free, where only the beat rules.
Developed from CAVE, which was originally produced by Martha Graham Company and Studio Simkin, IN THE BRAIN celebrates the spark, connection and unity found in dancing together.
Need to know
This performance contains haze, blackouts and flashing lights. Latecomers are not admitted.
Performed by Shechter II
Choreography and music: Hofesh Shechter
Lighting design: Tom Visser
Costume design: Osnat Kelner
Associate artistic director: Bruno Guillore
Sound collaborator: Frédéric Despierre
Rehearsal directors for Shechter II: Chien-Ming Chang and Yeji Kim
Dancers: Matilde Agostinone, Nagga Baldina, Teige Bisnought, Federica Fantuzi, Woojin Kwon, Armand Lassus, Skiye Nataliah, Ella Roberts
Technical manager: Paul Froy
Technical stage manager: Ashley Bolitho
Relighter: Alan Valentine
Additional music: Âme (Kristian Beyer & Frank Wiedemann) licensed by arrangement with INNERVISIONS
IN THE BRAIN is based on an original work called CAVE, produced by Martha Graham Company, Studio Simkin and Sharing Space, which premiered at City Center Dance Festival, New York City, on 6 April 2022.
Hofesh Shechter Company gratefully receives support towards the delivery of Shechter II 2026. This includes core funding from The Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation and the Abderrahim Crickmay Charitable Settlement, and project funding from Jerwood Foundation towards Jerwood x SII – a Continued Professional Development (CPD) offer to the dancers, and from Cockayne Grants for the Arts, a Donor Advised Fund, held at The Prism Charitable Trust and the Maria Björnson Memorial Fund towards the creation and London premiere of IN THE BRAIN. With additional support from the Garrick Charitable Trust towards Dancer Transition.
Hofesh Shechter Company is supported using public funding through Arts Council England and benefits from the support of BNP Paribas Foundation for the development of its projects. Hofesh Shechter is Co-Director of the Agora, Cité Internationale de la Danse, Montpellier.
Reviews
‘superlatively talented’
The Guardian (on From England with Love)
‘You’ll fall for Hofesh Shechter’s anarchy’
The Times (on From England with Love)
Image gallery
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