Is production house Dansmakers Amsterdam losing its housing? Together with other institutions in the dance sector, it has made every effort to align and further develop the whole spectrum of dance facilities in Amsterdam. In 2018, for example, the joint plan Dance Yard developed and submitted as an application for a two-year development grant to the Amsterdam Fund for the Arts (AFK). Yet the AFK rejected the application for 2019/2020 due to "a lack of artistic vision" and criticism of the budget.
"Policymakers have their mouths full about talent development," says Suzy Blok, general and artistic director. ,,That's what Dansmakers Amsterdam works very hard on. It is seen and appreciated. Makers receive awards, present locally, nationally and internationally and reach many audiences. We work a lot with partners in the sector and create development opportunities and support. The house is essential in this. But with the threat of being put on the street, it is unclear how things will proceed. It seems to be a matter of formalities. Who should take responsibility for solving the problem?"
Developing ideas, building careers
In 2011, the production house got access to an old factory hall on the Storkterrein in Amsterdam-Noord. In 2014/2015, the building was remodelled with a grant from the City of Amsterdam and the North district. It became a beautiful facility with studios, office spaces, a theatre and a foyer. Dansmakers Amsterdam helps professional dancers and choreographers build their careers. Young dance makers come to the building for a certain period of time to work out their ideas. They receive support in all areas: (co-)production of their performances, help in finding a network and audience and creating support for what they make, locally, nationally, internationally and with fellow production houses.
No more inward looking
,,In our theatre, they can present their choreographies. That's how we help them build an audience. What we achieve with this is that dance is no longer inward-looking, as the sector was accused of being in the 1990s and the beginning of this millennium. That reproach later led to the cutbacks under state secretary Zijlstra, in which all production houses lost their subsidies. Fortunately, the municipality of Amsterdam stepped in at the time and the dance production house function could be preserved for Amsterdam. The new generation of dance makers is enormously driven to communicate with audiences and to stand with both feet in society."
To intensify contact with the audience, there are feedback sessions after performances. Apart from fellow dance makers, these sessions also include ordinary audiences and schoolchildren. In this way, dancers and choreographers hear how their work comes across, what thoughts and emotions it evokes in the audience. In this way, a bond is built with the audience and the work of the makers grows.
Cross-pollination
,,We encourage them not to lock themselves in the studio, but to work together and present their work. We promote cross-pollination by organising festivals, presentations and workshops. Those festivals have an international appeal, such as Moving Futures, for which programmers from all over Europe and beyond travel to Amsterdam to discover the new talents."
It did not stop at this production house function. ,,The municipality commissioned us to develop cooperation in the Amsterdam dance sector under the guidance of Ted Brandsen of the National Ballet. This was justified, as the supply and the sector were very fragmented. We received an innovation subsidy from the AFK and started Dance Yard, led by an external process leader, Gabriel Oostvogel. A collaboration emerged between eight partners, covering the whole range of the dance sector: Dansmakers Amsterdam, the National Ballet, the Academy for Theatre and Dance (part of the Amsterdam School of the Arts, AHK), city company ICK, dance company for youth Aya, Veem House for Performance and Bau (Platform for independent makers)."
The rejection of the grant application last December affects not only Dansmakers Amsterdam and the Dance Yard-partners. Several institutions rent workspaces in the building and use the theatre: DAT!School (Youth Theatre and Film), ISH, Cinedans and Tent Circustheater Productions. They too will be out on the street if the building's rent cannot be continued.
Neighbourhood function
Apart from talent development, Dansmakers has an important neighbourhood function. The building borders Amsterdam's Vogelbuurt neighbourhood. Many people live there who are underprivileged. The area is developing rapidly. Between now and 2025, some twenty thousand new houses will be built in Noord. ,,We can fulfil an important cultural-social function here. For example, we organise workshops and performances for and by schools."
Urgent
Suzy Blok is in talks with the city council, the City of Amsterdam and the North district. Time is pressing, the situation is urgent. ,,If we do not have a prospect of a solution by the end of March, we will be forced to terminate the building's rent. Then the facility will be lost for talent development, dance and culture. The hope is to continue with the rent subsidy. Then we can continue to build cooperation and the vibrant place for dance, the neighbourhood, the city and beyond. Postively building for the future and the much-needed place for dance!"
Innovation in dance: give young creators space and you'll get it!
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