On Friday, famous Belgian artist Jan Fabre will stand in his second day of trial in Antwerp for sexual harassment, violence and one case of indecent assault as head of the dance company Troubleyn. The first day of his trial took place last week.
The plaintiffs consist of 11 female performers who worked with Fabre between 2000 and 2018, along with the Institute for the Equality of Women and Men. Fabre currently faces up to 5 years in jail for his actions.
First day of trial
On the first day of the trial, Public Prosecution Service demanded an effective prison sentence of three years, the maximum sentence for bullying, violence and sexual harassment at work. Fabre, who was not present in court, was described by several women as a “sexual predator who uses art as bait”.
The lawyers representing the civil parties said Fabre told one of the victims: “I have to have sex with you before I can give you a solo performance in the dance show”.
Another victim stated how “he started taking pictures, but then came closer, put his hand on my chest and put his tongue in my mouth”. One woman was asked to masturbate in front of a camera, with only her eyes being filmed. “At one point he came closer, started putting strawberries in my vagina and said he was trying to help me.”
His actions also included other forms of exploitation, with another victim testifying she was offered an internship in exchange for weekday meals.
‘Completely deranged’
As with the first day of his trial, Jan Fabre will not be present in court. His lawyers, Eline Tritsmans, Manon Gutwirth and Danique Van Mechelen, represent him in court.
The defence stated that the case is “completely deranged” and that Fabre has not committed any criminal offences. “My client has been dehumanised, demonised and caricatured,” Tritsmans said.
She added that this is nothing like a “classical ballet or Shakespearean performance”, but a “special Faberian context”. According to her, the dancers were “not defenceless minors, but strong, highly educated women who choose to make radical theatre”.
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The lawyers minimise Fabre’s role within his dance company Troubleyn, stating “he was not the chief”, as the Public Prosecution Service said last week. The defence stated that his power within the dance company needs to be put into perspective.
The lawyers also said that the open letter denouncing Fabre’s behaviour in 2018 was written by an “activist” and “facilitated” by the Institute for the Equality of Women and Men, and later the Flemish Minister of Culture, Sven Gatz.
