Pierre Bastin (half-time) Born in Verviers in 1998, Pierre grew up between costume games, nature and scouts — a universe of adventure and camaraderie that would deeply mark his journey. At age 10, he discovered dance at the conservatory and didn't miss a single class. At 14, he left for Antwerp to pursue artistic studies, while returning every weekend to see his family and scout group, where he would become a cub scout leader under the name Bagheera. A graduate of the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp, he then danced in the creations of Jan Martens, Vera Tussing, Tuur Marinus and Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker. Passionate about nature and gardening — especially tomatoes — he brings together ecology, resistance and poetry in his artistic work (After all, Porous). Since 2023, Pierre is an associate artist at Bal Spécial. He leads technical workshops for young people there and develops engaged projects in partnership with Greenpeace and CNCD-11.11.11. Guided by the creative energy of children, he cultivates dance as a terrain of free, joyful and collective exploration.
Amalia Guis (half-time) trained in dance in Paris, at Copenhagen Contemporary Dance School (Denmark) and at the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp (Belgium). In 2020, she co-founded the Sidewards collective, with which she created several choreographic pieces. After two years of traveling in South America, she joined Bal Spécial, where she leads workshops for the youngest children, develops projects for young people and young adult beginners, participates in artistic projects in school settings, and during the 2026-2027 season, also teaches improvisation and contemporary dance classes for adults on Tuesday evenings, classical dance for young people and salsa for adults on Wednesday evenings.
Aurélie (half-time)
Aurélie is the invisible link that keeps Bal Spécial running day-to-day. She handles the administrative and financial aspects of the ASBL, coordinates with the accountant, the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, PECA, schools, the General Assembly, and many other partners. She is the one who adds the finishing touches to files and reports, gathering information and figures that make the difference.
Aurélie also manages registrations and supports parents in finding their way in our association, whose workings are sometimes a bit unconventional.
And during our summer camp at Villers-Sainte-Gertrude, she becomes the essential link between the kitchen team and dozens of hungry young people! 😊
Direct contact: balspecial.inscriptions@gmail.com
Born in Liège in 2003, currently completing a master's degree in Visual Communication and Graphic Design, specializing in Identity (St Luc).
Alongside her studies, she grew up in an environment deeply marked by creativity: an art studio in Saint-Léonard, scouts from Saint-Walburge, dance at Bal Spécial, and a large garden at the foot of a spoil heap. Passionate about urban dance, particularly house and hip-hop, she continues today to actively train in these disciplines.
Inspired by her childhood memories, particularly the CRAFT project and her adventures on the spoil heap, Hannah wishes to pass on this richness to today's children by imagining new experiences where architecture, graphic design and dance come together.
She is responsible for Saturday morning workshops for children alongside Zoï Alexandris. She also coordinates the summer stage Terre-'il' with Naomi Kristanto and Elfrida Sadien, as well as Cart'on summer camps with Alem Meunier.
Hannah is also the graphic designer for Bal Spécial. She designs posters, flyers and participates in creating content for social media.
Anne-Lore (half-time) Born and raised in Ghent (1972), younger sister of two older brothers, Anne-Lore spent her childhood between neighborhood school, scouts and adventure playgrounds with neighbors. At 16, she committed to an organization offering holidays for disadvantaged children. She has danced her whole life — from the family living room to discovering African dance at 17. Her passion took her from Senegal to Mali, through workshops and trainings, then to a bachelor's degree in dance at Fontys Dansacademie (1995-1999). For the past 25 years, she has worked as a freelancer in youth theater (Kopergietery, Hetpaleis...) and arts education (De Veerman, Wisper, Passerelle, Muze...). In 1998, she founded Cacao Bleu with Lenneke Rasschaert — young audience performances, interactive exhibitions, short films. Love brought her to Liège in 2000. There she dances, creates and teaches. After the project An Elephant in the City (2011), she founded Bal Spécial (2015), then joined Danspunt (2019). Since 2023, she has been training in the Feldenkrais method. Mother of three children, Anne-Lore is the "MAMA" within Bal Spécial: she watches over the balance of the project, like a permaculture gardener — observing, adjusting and guiding everyone so that the whole can grow with coherence, joy and creativity.
Direct contact: balpecial07@gmail.com
The Dansimateurs are a famous group of young people aged 15 to 23 who volunteer alongside Bal Spécial. Everyone finds their place there according to their wishes, talents and the time they can devote to the association. The most experienced help carry out projects, such as our climate action initiatives. Others lend a hand in workshops, support children during camps or lead activities at our events. At the Earth camp, they are a precious presence for the youngest participants. To support them, Bal Spécial regularly organizes small internal training sessions to pass on animation, creativity and teaching tools. Many started as participants before becoming volunteers in turn. Some later become facilitators, artists or carry out their own projects within the association. Among them: Zoï, Juliette B., Isée, Louka, Juliette G., Luna, Lou, Elfrida, Alem, Naomi, Lilou, Lola, Hannah… and many others.
Parents and volunteers Bal Spécial also thrives thanks to a wonderful network of parents, volunteers and supporters who give their time, energy and ideas. Some are part of the General Assembly, others roll up their sleeves on our projects or simply lend a hand when needed. During our famous camp at Villers-Sainte-Gertrude, they take over in the kitchen and prepare meals for the entire team. Among our volunteers, there are also the Robin Hoods of Bal Spécial. Once a year, they gather for a weekend to imagine new projects, write funding applications and dream about what Bal Spécial could become tomorrow. It is thanks to these weekends that we can develop projects that go well beyond our daily activities and open up new adventures.
The Zs are young adults who have grown up, for many of them, within Bal Spécial or who joined our project along the way. They have chosen to pursue training in an artistic field, most often in dance, and are now looking to find their place in the professional world. When projects allow it, Bal Spécial commits to supporting them through this transition by offering them collaborations as freelancers within sociocultural projects. It is a way to support their first professional steps while nurturing a new generation of committed artists.
