Something magical often happens in dance

Even during my training at the Scapino Dance Academy, I was involved in creating choreography. In my pieces, I aim to touch and move my audience. We all experience all sorts of things in life—big events, small stories. But everyone deals with them differently. By giving these differences a platform, I create a layered experience that people can relate to. In every performance, I strive for an intensity in the moment itself. Dancers and audience alike embrace it openly and surrender. And then something magical often happens.

In September 2012, a long-cherished dream of mine came true with the founding of Dansgroep Haarlem. For many years, I had been creating ad hoc productions with varying groups of dancers. This (permanent) group of semi-professional dancers gives me the opportunity to delve even deeper into my choreographies, to create them more collaboratively with the dancers, to tailor them more to their needs. The interplay between my world and that of the dancers, to see where they intersect and where they don't, creates a very exciting process, but also the connection I'm apparently seeking. Then we take our piece to our audience. Then the circle is complete.

Especially special for me are the collaborations I form with fellow choreographers, like Patricia van Deutekom now, and in the past, for example, with Lene van Alten and my daughter Sarai Maëla. Creating something together and leading a group together offers a different kind of inspiration. It challenges me to share and coordinate more, it gives me a sense of support, and at the same time, it offers new techniques and perspectives.

In 2022, we received a substantial grant from the municipality of Haarlem to further develop our ideas and plans. This is truly an honor and a recognition from our Danshuis. It provides additional incentive to continue working with this wonderful group of dancers.