GOD'S OWN

FEDORA
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS
Dance Prize 2027
Shortlist

GOD'S OWN

United Kingdom
Botis Seva | Far From The Norm LTD

GOD'S OWN © Camilla Greenwell i

GOD’S OWN is an ambitious new dance theatre production by visionary artist Botis Seva. Blending Hip Hop, contemporary dance and immersive visual storytelling, the work explores themes of faith, belonging and collective resilience in a world shaped by crisis and uncertainty.

Presentation

GOD’S OWN is a major new dance theatre production by Olivier Award-winning choreographer Botis Seva and his company Far From The Norm. Bringing together a cast of thirteen performers from Hip Hop, contemporary and social dance backgrounds, the work asks what faith means in a world marked by war, division and uncertainty. It explores why people continue to search for something to believe in, and what happens when those beliefs are challenged.

Inspired by the story of Jesus and the twelve disciples, GOD’S OWN does not retell a biblical narrative but uses this familiar allegory to examine human behaviour. Questions of devotion, sacrifice, leadership and belonging become a way of exploring the forces that bind communities together yet pull them apart. What makes people follow? What sustains loyalty? Where do we turn when the structures around us begin to fail?

Drawing on Far From The Norm’s distinctive movement language, GOD’S OWN combines Hip Hop-derived choreography with contemporary dance theatre, original music, voice and striking visual imagery. Botis will take reference from filmmaker Darren Aronofsky’s psychological and allegorical storytelling, using symbolism, atmosphere and physical action to create meaning beyond a linear narrative. Rather than illustrating ideas directly, GOD’S OWN invites audiences into a world where ritual, visual motifs and collective movement reveal deeper questions about faith, responsibility and connection.

Rooted in Botis Seva’s ongoing exploration of how social and political realities shape individual lives, GOD’S OWN ultimately speaks to a universal human need: to find meaning in times of crisis. Through an ambitious large-scale performance, it offers space to reflect on faith, community and our relationship to one another in an increasingly fragmented world.