Gaël Santisteva

Gaël Santisteva has been living and working in Brussels since 2007. He was born in 1977 in Auch in the Gers (France). Throughout his youth, he practiced circus intensively until he became a student at the National Centre for Circus Arts in Chalons en Champagne, from which he graduated with a specialty in Russian swing in 2001. Upon leaving school, he worked as a performer in various dance, dance-theatre, or musical theatre companies. The Circus, however, never left his mind or body, it is even what strongly constitutes the unique character of his personality on a theatre stage. After several years of reflection and contacts with different creators, he began a more personal research in order to produce pieces marked by his own identity. He also continues artistic collaborations as a performer in projects that involve questioning and renewing his artistic vocabulary. Gaël has worked as a performer with, among others, Philippe Decouflé, Jean-Marc Heim, the Ballets C de la B -Koen Augustijnen, Cie Zimmermann/De Perrot, Eleanor Bauer. He created in duo with Lara Barsacq two performances presented at the Tanzhaus in Zurich: Tonight, I love you! (2012) and The Hide Show (2014). In 2016, Gaël Santisteva co-founded the asbl Gilbert & Stock with Lara Barsacq. In addition to his personal work, he works on other projects, as a performer, artistic advisor or assistant director for: Walking the Line by choreographer Benjamin Vandewalle, Noir M1 and Les Flyings by Mélissa Von Vépy, New Joy and Meyoucycle by Eleanor Bauer, Lost in Ballets russes, IDA don't cry me love and Fruit Tree by Lara Barsacq.

In 2017, he created the piece TALK SHOW and began a tour in France and Belgium. His second project - Garcimore is dead - was created on November 18, 2021 at the Manège de Reims - national stage, as part of the Born to be a live festival. In 2022, Gaël will direct the collective performance of the 3rd year students of ESAC (Brussels).