Rosas

We are very sad to learn of the passing of Jean-Marie Aerts this weekend.

Jean-Marie Aerts played a crucial role in the history of Belgian pop and rock music. In the 1980s, the music he made with Arno and TC Matic was an important source of inspiration for Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker and the musicians Thierry De Mey and Peter Vermeersch when they were creating Rosas danst Rosas.

In 2023, Anne Teresa, Meskerem Mees and Carlos Garbin worked closely together with Jean-Marie Aerts on the music for EXIT ABOVE. This exiting collaboration came about when Anne Teresa, looking for inspiration for music to use in a new choreographic work, pulled an album by Jean-Marie from the shelves, and a note, written by him 30 years prior, fell out of its sleeve. She called the number in the letter and the rest is history. Together they decided to contact Meskerem Mees to invite her to join the project. During their first meeting, in Jean-Marie’s music studio, Jean-Marie and Meskerem immediately started to compose and record the walking song that would later open EXIT ABOVE. Jean-Marie introduced the beats that came to characterize the sound of EXIT ABOVE. He composed a series of powerful original tracks that imbue EXIT ABOVE with an exhilarating energy that brings together the dancers, and the audience, in an intense group choreography.

Jean-Marie’s contributions to the piece are inimitable. He was also a very generous and warm presence during rehearsals and on tour. His absence is difficult to fathom. He will be sorely missed.

We would like to extend our condolences and warmest wishes to his wonderful partner Miet Ongena, who we had the pleasure to meet and spend time with in the past year.