Bal Spécial has officially existed since 2015, but its story began much earlier, in the early 2000s (Cacao Bleu asbl). It all started with a request from parents in Eupen, looking for a different way to approach dance for their child: a more creative, more holistic approach that considers the child's development in all its dimensions. They then turned to Anne-Lore Baeckeland Gantoise, an educator and choreographic artist.
In Liège, another founding moment emerged in 2011 with Un éléphant dans la ville, a project by Collectif du Lion that invited schools and hundreds of children to spend an entire year immersed in dance. What was meant to be a one-time experience continued at the families' request: a second year, then a third… Until it became clear that a permanent structure was needed to allow the project to continue growing. This is how Bal Spécial was officially born in 2015.
Through Bal Spécial, Anne-Lore Baeckeland brings together the different experiences that have shaped her journey: her freelance work within numerous arts education organizations and theaters in Flanders; her experience as a creator of shows for young audiences and traveling interactive exhibitions, designed to introduce dance in all its richness; but also her own childhood, growing up in an environment where free play, youth movements and sports clubs held an essential place. Today, Bal Spécial is both a demanding and accessible arts education venue, a community that cultivates its own rituals and moments of sharing, an intergenerational structure where young and old regularly meet in shared projects, and a space where children and young people are invited to participate in the life of the association and take on responsibilities. It is also an environment where everyone can grow, flourish and develop their creativity, while discovering that rigor, commitment and compassionate discipline make it possible to carry out ambitious artistic projects together, accompanied by professional dancers.
Each person who joins Bal Spécial, whether as a team member or as an invited artist (depending on funding from the Wallonia-Brussels Federation and project calls), brings their sensitivity, their background and their passions. It is this diversity that nurtures and evolves Bal Spécial over the years. From 2023 to 2027, Pierre Bastin shares his commitment to young people and develops projects around climate and the living world. From 2025, Amalia Guis joins the adventure with her passion for salsa and social dances. Hannah Schmetz, a trained graphic designer and passionate about hip-hop and house music, brings her visual world and sense of rhythm to workshops and camps.
Bal Spécial is a boat that moves according to encounters, desires and opportunities. Some projects come to life thanks to funding, others thanks to the enthusiasm and commitment of those around us. Parents, volunteers, volunteer percussionists, artists, partners and friends each contribute their own part. It is thanks to all these people that the adventure continues to exist.
