Identities in Motion: Justine Theizen’s POV Brings Hip Hop, Humor, and Queer Stories to the Stage

POV, the new creation by choreographer and performer Justine Theizen, blurs the boundaries between hip hop, theatre, drag king performance, and digital culture. Premiering at Atelier 210 from 11 to 22 November 2025, the show explores how lesbian and queer identities are shaped and shared — from scrolling TikTok to dancing on stage. Accessible, funny, and thought-provoking, POV is both a celebration of diversity and an invitation to mutual understanding. Interview by Ket Mag.

What I want to defend with this performance is positive representation — being free to explore my identity through sexuality, and breaking free from norms with humor and love.
— Justine Theizen

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Hip Hop Meets Queer Humor

With POV, Theizen creates an interactive, rhythmic world where dance, theatre, and video intertwine. Drawing on her own journey — always between communities, never in a single box — Justine Theizen invites audiences to experience queer identities in motion. “I’ve never fit entirely into a single box — not only as a dancer, not fully at home in one community. POV gives form to that in-between space.”

The show uses humor, activism, and self-irony to critique mainstream norms that shape hip hop and queer spaces alike. The audience joins games asking whether an image is Justin Bieber or a lesbian, revealing the codes and contradictions of popular culture. “Humor opens up difficult conversations in a positive way. The message can get lost in laughter, but that’s the delicate balance POV plays with.”

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TikTok and Queer Self-Discovery

TikTok’s “POV” trends inspire the show’s themes and format. For Justine, social media was the first time she saw raw, direct queer representation. Lesbian creators use the platform to confront microaggressions and share authentic experiences, outside of fictional narratives. “Even in queer spaces, heteronormativity and capitalism are present. TikTok can uplift or divide. For young people, it’s tough to navigate all this information — Greta and I are still figuring it out.”

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Artistic Collaboration and Minoritized Bodies

On stage, Theizen collaborates with Greta Fjellman, a queer actor trained at ARTS. Together, they reinvent the stage as a site of empowerment for marginalized bodies. “These contradictions strengthen our duo — we realize, on stage, that our real opponent is the capitalist system shaping those identities.”

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About Justine Theizen

A queer and politically engaged artist, Justine fuses hip hop, theatre, drag, and pop culture. Trained in krump and hip hop theatre under Cindy Claes, she has worked with companies such as RUUPTUUR (Mercedes Dassy, Atelier 210), RUUPTUUR – Mercedes Dassy, Categoreez- Yassin Payne, I’ll be there for you ( for me) – Lorena Spindler, Rivoluzione e Nostalgia – Michiel Vandevelde – Opera de la monnaie . As drag artist Zack, she is a visible force in Brussels’ queer nightlife and recently co-organized Battle Queer with Get Down – Dancers Management.

My art aims to reach a wide audience through emotion and accessibility while staying true to my personal experiences.
— Justine Theizen

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POV – Practical Information

Locatie: Atelier 210, 210 Chaussée Saint-Pierre, 1040 Brussels
Dates: 11–22 November 2025
Tickets & Info: atelier210.be
Event page

Distribution:
Choreographer and performer: Justine Theizen – Theatrical writing support and performer: Greta Fjellman @gretafjl – Sound design: Maïa Blondeau @xuanmay – Set design: Emma Lobina – Video direction and interactive design: Bastienne Waultier and Caroline Rohn – Artistic, choreographic, and dramaturgical advice: Mercedes Dassy @merced.assyd – Lighting design: Lou Van Egmond @lightlouvanegmond – Costume design/styling: Emilie Vacher @mimi_coutuuure – Sound creation assistance and stage management: Selma Raphard Ayadi – Video and lighting management: Vincent Lemoine – Associate production: Atelier 210 – Production: Flora Chassang-Simonpoli @flora_yvn Get Down – Production and distribution: Camille Philippot

With support from: Charleroi danse, Zinnema, Garage 29, Pianofabriek, Espace Magh, atelier 210, CCJF, Lezarts Urbain, Get Down-Dancers Management, la coop asbl, Wallonie-Bruxelles Théâtre Danse, Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, Taxshelter.be – ING & Belgian Federal Government.

Pictures : AUBANE FILEE