Troublemakers

In his new work *Troublemakers*, created for Innsbruck, the young choreographer Lucas Valente explores life from the perspective of people with ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder).

The story follows a child and their struggles to adapt and fit into systems that do not always welcome them. For the stage production, the focus is on the tension between external control—symbolized by the familiar world of school—and the reality of an individual brain that functions at a different rhythm. What does it feel like to have ADHD? What does it mean for one’s own life and for the lives of those around them? Valente seeks answers to these questions through the process of dance. The feelings, sensations, and real-life experiences of people with ADHD are to be perceived and conveyed through all the senses. Set against the contrast between chaos and creativity, confusion and clarity, as well as isolation and community, Troublemakers is ultimately a study of perception. The aim is to challenge the labels of “problem child” or “troublemaker” and to demonstrate that those affected simply function on a different frequency or according to a different logic—a logic that most people do not yet fully understand.

Lucas Valente has been a member of the renowned Zurich Ballet for nearly ten years. The Brazilian’s interest in choreography has accompanied him since the beginning of his dance career. In recent years, he has created various short pieces, including works for the Zurich Ballet, the Zurich Junior Ballet, and the ballet company of the Opéra national du Rhin. In 2022, he was awarded the prize for best choreography at the choreography competition in Biarritz. “Troublemakers” will be his first full-length piece.