De Dansers receives the first Harm Lambers Building Block for Special Art in Utrecht

Utrecht - Utrecht dance company De Dansers received the first Harm Lambers Building Stone for Special Art in Utrecht on 10 April. During a festive evening in Theater Kikker, one of the initiators, Paul Feld, presented this challenge trophy to De Dansers.

Jury report

De Dansers, led by choreographer Josephine van Rheenen and composer Guy Corneille is renowned for its 'dance concerts'. It is this effortless connection of live music and dance that makes them, according to Harm Lambers makes the rightful first winners of the Building Block.

The jury report is full of praise for De Dansers: "De Dansers receives this art award because of their consistent artistic direction, which, with its equivalence of music and dance, is both original and of high quality. De Dansers is a truly open company, which dares to be vulnerable by frequently mirroring its own practice with that of others, including more experienced creators."

The award includes a challenge trophy, the Bouwsteen, as a symbol of building the connection between art and the city, and an evening that De Dansers will programme at their own discretion in Theater Kikker to further inspire Utrecht residents and fellow artists. The municipality of Utrecht will contribute financially to the realisation of the special programme that De Dansers will present in spring 2023.

Guy and Josephine, on behalf of The Dancers: "We are very honoured and deeply touched that Harm nominated us. It is perhaps the most beautiful award there is, because it is about the connections we make with others, both within our own company and with schools and audiences in the city, in the Netherlands and internationally. Without these connections, we don't exist. Being able to programme an evening of our own is a dream come true; it will be an evening around our most inspiring encounters."

The award is named after former director Harm Lambers, who died at the end of November 2021. It is an initiative of theatre-makers Paul Feld and Erik Snel in collaboration with Theater Kikker and specifically intended for Utrecht artists and collectives, who seek a connection between art and the city. The intention is to award this prize in 2024 for the 2^e handing out times.