The Herds: a preview of Biennale Danza 2025

The Herds, a preview of Biennale Danza directed by Sir Wayne McGregor, will stop for an appearance in Venice on June 17^th from 6 pm to 7:30 pm, leaving from the Teatro Piccolo Arsenale (Campo della Tana) to arrive at the gates of Biennale Architettura. A spectacular work of traveling public art, The Herds uses life-size puppet animals to address the global crisis of climate change. Conceived by the director Amir Nizar Zuabi, this is a large-scale action that travels through African and European cities, from the Congo Basin to the Arctic Polar Circle, in a symbolic migration that grows larger stop after stop. Life-size elephants, giraffes, antelopes and lions, gorillas, kudus and zebras animate urban performances to awaken consciences and promote a collective participatory action.

From April through August 2025, herds of animals built of recycled cardboard with a moveable wood structure, the work of a 35-person team made up of designers, technicians and trainers including the Ukwanda Puppetry and Designs Art Collective from South Africa, will invade city centres – from Kinshasa to the extreme tip of Norway – travelling a 20,000 km route that symbolizes their escape from the climate disasters that have destroyed their habitat. Biennale College Danza with its selected sixteen dancers and two choreographers will meet The Herds at the Arsenale in Venice, and with them, the hip-hop star Anthony Matsena will create a bespoke choreographic intervention.

As Anthony Matsena explains: “The Herds is an unparalleled experience of dance-theatre, a collision between movement, music and myth that will flood the streets and canals of Venice with the wild rhythm of nature. Awe-inspiring life-size puppets (lions, elephants and gorillas) move not as simple reproductions, but as living creatures. Their bodies, personified by remarkable performers, tell an ancient and contemporary story. We invite you into a world in which the boundary between human, animal and spiritual is not only blurred, but marvellously intertwined.  The herds of animals become precipitous flight, a whisper, a mating call, a cry for help. Each step, each breath is filled with meaning. The Herds dares to tell the truth without the burden of factual precision. It says something deeper, something spiritual, emotional, undeniable. This is nature taking back its stage. The final echo of a world we are losing”.

After Kinshasa (9-11 April), Lagos (18-20 April), Dakar (25-27 April), Marrakech (2-5 May), Casablanca and Rabat (9-12 May), San Fernando, Cadìz (1 June), Madrid (6-8 June), in collaboration with the Compañía Nacional de Danza, Barcelona (10-11 June), The Herds came to Marseilles and Arles, from 13 to 15 June, where the acclaimed Gratte Ciel Company co-created a fascinating aerial performance. Pushing further North, The Herds met the magnetic energy of Marseilles in a cacophony of rap music, noisy cars and vulnerable gazelles.

In Venice, on 17 June, a choreographic piece co-created by Anthony Matsena will make its way into the lagoon, as part of Biennale Danza 2025, under the artistic direction of Sir Wayne McGregor.

In Paris, from 20 to 22 June, The Herds will march through the courtyards of the Palais Royale, venturing forth into the shade of Notre Dame and the northern outskirts of the city. The celebrated video projection artist Étienne Giol will create an eerie night spectacle, while the choreographer Samar King will explore loneliness and desperation.

In London, from 27 to 29 June, after crossing the River Thames in the early morning, the animals of The Herds find their way into the heart of the City, rampaging through the streets and hiding between the trees. With events co-created by Unicorn Theatre and Sadler’s Wells among others.

In Manchester, from 3 to 5 July, the animals will be caught up in the opening of the Manchester International Festival in the centre of the city, with the music of Manchester Camerata swirling around them.

In Aarhus, from 15 to 19 July, The Herds will venture along the waterfront and into the campus of the city’s university, where people are invited to come and spend the night camping with the animals. And if you’re up early, you might see the herds taking their morning drink.

In Copenhagen, from 16 to 20 July, between gushes of cold water the animals will be feeling compressed and battered by their long journey, and something will have to give…

In Stockholm, from 24 to 26 July, The Herds will crash into the pulsing energy the city centre. The animals will seek refuge in the historical square of Stortorget and the alleyways of Gamla Stan. The events are co-created with Parkteatern – Kulturhuset Stadsteatern Riksteatern.

In Trondheim, from 28 to 30 July, during the Olavsfest International Festival, the animals will be embraced by the ancient traditions of the Sami people.

At the Arctic Polar Circle, after crossing continents, terrains and thousands of kilometres, The Herds will reach their final destination at one of the furthest north places in the world. But in the distance, we will see something unexpected coming…

Anthony Matsena is a choreographer, performer and director born in Zimbabwe and raised in Wales. He works between the mediums of dance, theatre, music and poetry, with themes that address culture, race, and the pressing social issues of today. In 2017 he founded Matsena Productions with his brother Kel to give voice to black stories, integrating African dance, hip-hop, theatre and rap. After being selected as Sadler’s Wells Young Associate in 2018, he created works for important institutions such as Sadler’s Wells, BBC, National Dance Company Wales and the Royal Welsh College. He directed and choreographed Shades of Blue and the film Error Code 8:46, and his creation titled Codi recently toured the United Kingdom.
He was one of three creative directors of Olympic Fusion, an event that celebrated the introduction of surf, skating, sport-climbing and breaking to the Paris Olympic Games in 2024. He also supported the creation and development of the documentary Brothers in Dance, winner of a BAFTA Award, with BBC Wales, and produced Are You Numb Yet?, a short film that won the International Infallible Award for Best Show at the 2020 Edinburgh Fringe festival.

Amir Nizar Zuabi is an award-winning director and playwright. He is the founder and former artistic director of the ShiberHur theatre company, Associate Director of the Young Vic Theatre, member of the United Theatres Europe for artistic achievement and an alumnus of the Sundance Institute’s Theatre Programme. In January 2022, he was appointed Artistic Director of The Walk Productions Limited.

The Walk Productions is a non-profit company based in London known for large-scale participatory public art projects that address urgent global issues through narratives and performance. Founded in 2019 by David Lan and Tracey Seaward, with artistic director Amir Nizar Zuabi, the organisation seeks to unite communities, challenge assumptions and inspire change through ambitious artistic efforts.