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Culture podcorocastnapers (22): Surely some form of gathering should be possible again in the autumn? ISH will be awarded Holland's biggest culture prize on 23 November.

'We would have actually been presented with the award last week at the premiere of Grimm. That was our big production this season that was to play 30 times. But after the second rehearsal, we were able to stop. It seriously looks like we won't be seen in theatres this year. When the theatres reopen in the autumn, we don't have anything ready to tour with right away. So we are now also looking at what ways we can get our dance to the public.'

This time, we talk to Lodewijlk Reijs, general director of ISH Dance Collective. His company will get the Prince Bernhard Culture Fund Prize, with 150,000 euros the largest prize to be won in the Dutch cultural world. The amount, half of which may be used as one sees fit and the other half deposited in a special 'named fund', is a boost for the urban club, although it is still a little unclear how they will turn that into dance performances in the short term.

Reijs: 'Dancing on a stage and audience in the plush is one form, but other forms are also possible. Dance is a contact profession. You can make solos, of course, but what else is possible? How can you design the creation process? Do you have to wash your hands after every pas de deux? How can you do that in a healthy way? What does a much emptier hall mean for your buyout fee?'

Plenty to think about, and in the happy knowledge that price has found its way into the urban part of our culture.

Wijbrand Schaap

Cultural journalist since 1996. Worked as theatre critic, columnist and reporter for Algemeen Dagblad, Utrechts Nieuwsblad, Rotterdams Dagblad, Parool and regional newspapers through Associated Press Services. Interviews for TheaterMaker, Theatererkrant Magazine, Ons Erfdeel, Boekman. Podcast maker, likes to experiment with new media. Culture Press is called the brainchild I gave birth to in 2009. Life partner of Suzanne Brink roommate of Edje, Fonzie and Rufus. Search and find me on Mastodon.View Author posts

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