Dansgroep Haarlem

Experienced and passionate dancers of all ages, trained in classical and modern dance techniques, adapt their personal stories into a choreography during the performances of Dansgroep Haarlem. Close to the audience and in surprising locations, they present major themes in small, tangible stories. And all this under the enthusiastic guidance of dance artist Haya Maëla, who has been artistic director for more than twelve years.

The various stories in the dance productions are always about man's relationship with his environment. Sometimes the themes are current social themes, but they are also about universal themes. In recent years, Dansgroep Haarlem has excelled with productions about people in war zones, migrants and host countries. But a theme like Time is also not avoided. The performances are often more personal in nature. By making productions about fathers and mothers, the dancers' individual stories come to life on stage and move the audience. 

Dansgroep Haarlem makes its spectators think, without coming across as pedantic. Intense stories wash over us every day. And it's always about people. People in our own neighborhood, or about people far away, but also about ourselves. It is often more than we can handle. More than we can connect with. Ultimately, we no longer allow ourselves to be affected by this inundation. 

Dance group Haarlem touches everyone. The stories told are connected to those of the viewer, but also the other way around. That alone can be enough as the beginning of a more beautiful world.

Striking dance locations

Not only the theater can provide a stage for choreographies by Dansgroep Haarlem. The makers find it interesting to take the audience along special locations. An abandoned building, a prison, a parking garage, a museum, a church, but also a square, or around a large weeping beech in a park. All these places add an extra dimension to the stories told through dance.

Impactful music choice

To make this theater dance even more impactful, choreographer Haya Maëla's choice of music is of great added value. She has a great preference for using pieces of music by contemporary composers. But she also has music composed especially for a choreography. Over the years she has made choreographies to music by, among others, Pat Metheny, Louis Andriessen, Jonny Greenwood (Radiohead), Nik Bärtsch, Henrik Schwarz, Maarja Nuut, Anne Müller and the young Dutch composer Sarah Neutkens.

Immersieve dans

Everything comes together in the pieces of Dansgroep Haarlem. The theme, the location and the music. But regardless of the theme, the questions that Maëla and the dancers ask themselves, but also the audience, are all personal in nature; How do I relate to this theme? What would I do in this situation? This way of working offers recognition and provides a form of immersive theater that creates a connection between maker, dancers and their audience.