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Opening gala Holland Dance Festival relaxed exhibition of dance

The Source of Inspiration Gala of the Holland Dance Festival is a relaxed exhibition of dance that runs from 26 January to 17 February to be seen during festival. It is the second large dance gala in a week. Can that go well? The final tips for a successful gala.

1. make sure you give a price

It took a while, but Janine Dijkmeijer receives an award for founding the internationally leading film festival Cinedans. In the same breath, Janine also directs Nicole Beutler, the Dutch National Ballet and moves on to Nederlands Dans Theater in March. So the Jiří Kylián ring is a rightful recognition of her dedication to dance.

eanine-Dijkmeijer-winnaar-Jiri-Kylian-Ring-2014-c-Antoinette-Mooy
Janine-Dijkmeijer-winner-Jiri-Kylian-Ring-2014-photo-Antoinette-Mooy

2. make sure you raise money

Jan Kooijman, dancer/actor and ambassador for the Princess Beatrix Muscle Fund, looks for a connection between dance and muscle disease. He says there is: "Dancers represent the freedom that people with muscle disease have to miss out on. The judge of So YouThink You Can Dance and Everybody Dance Now Calls on people especially to come to the Free to move charity event on September 4.

3. ensure high visitation

The attendance is high: Princess of Dutch Dance Beatrix, and Laurentien and Constantijn. Also many acquaintances like Hans van Manen, the architect of the Lucent Danstheater to be demolished Rem (what's in a name) Koolhaas to Nout Wellink. Only Mr. Vaslav, Arthur Japin is missing.

Gala Holland dance festival 2014 foot: Antoinette Mooy
Gala Holland Dance Festival 2014 photo: Antoinette Mooy

4: be yourself

It is difficult to place the huge variety and amount of dance presented during the gala. Several speakers make an attempt to do so while stooping during the speech searching for word sheets and the like. Funny 'not senior moments' that make the dance party relaxed and accessible. As do the free drinks and deejay afterwards.

5. implement a theme

The power of dance at this gala lies in connecting people (watch the explanation by artistic director Samuel Wuersten). This can be seen in a stomping tight duet by Stephen Shropshire, ex-director of the defunct North Dutch Dance, to a surprisingly Sauvagerie by emerging choreographer Samir Calixto. Dancing is fun, dancing together is fun, councillor Marjolein de Jong revealed beforehand.

6. adapt to the times

A modern gala uses modern media. Video clips, projections, a trailer, use of a brass band, a jolly dance massive, and performers walking among the audience in the foyer, everything is used. Dance is, after all, communication. The gala as a prelude to the festival shows how that communication through dance differs globally. Source of Inspiration is simply an event for the preservation of dance.

 

Ruben Brugman

writing ex-dancerView Author posts

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