In HUIS Conny Janssen Danst Niek Wagenaar has grown into a familiar face: previously he worked in the studio as artist in residence on his duet Slipping Under and we regularly welcome him teaching our open classes (contemporary). In November, the choreographer had the opportunity to lead a three-day intensive at HUIS Conny Janssen Danst. During this intensive, Niek worked with twelve dancers to do research for Until Dawn, a new production by his company Nymphs. During the intensive, the dancers became part of the artistic process. We asked Niek and several participating dancers how they experienced these three days.
How was it for you to lead this intensive?
Niek: “I really enjoyed being able to work with a larger group of dancers. Normally, I work with a small ensemble, as I rely on small project-based grants as a maker. Working with a bigger group offered many new, playful possibilities in terms of composition. It was very inspiring — and also a lot of fun — to engage with the space in a different way. On top of that, it was a wonderful, mixed group: dancers who regularly attend my classes at HUIS Conny Janssen Danst, as well as completely new dancers who travelled from abroad to join the intensive. It felt like a beautiful moment to connect these artists with one another throughout the intensive, under the umbrella of my work.”
What influence did the dancers have on your research process?
Niek: “I always create ‘on the spot’. That means I develop the material in the moment, directly on the dancers. Because of that, the dancer’s energy has a major impact on the final material. The people who are in the studio with me greatly shape the character of what emerges. It was really exciting to see how the material took on a different color with this group — something that, in turn, enriches my movement language and offers new inspiration for the final performance.”
What (final) outcome will we be able to see later on from this intensive?
Niek: “I’m currently working on a new production with my company Nymphs, for which this intensive served as preliminary research. The performance, Until Dawn, will be a full-length work for small-scale auditoriums as well as for special locations. The piece is about exploring the turbulence of nightlife versus the sobriety of the morning after. I expect Until Dawn to premiere in the summer of 2027.”
How did you experience the intensive?
Romane (participant intensive): “It has been three rich and intense days where I had time and space to observe, to question, to try and to learn. We dived into Niek’s universe through exploration and creation.To research many ways to achieve a certain movement quality, to awaken and develop the senses, to work with the inside and outside body, to find new possibilities. It was a precious journey to keep on developing and training my body in that direction. I felt the need to feed my body with a new approach and in a sharing environment, I’m grateful I found both during these days.”
Mariví (participant intensive): “In the first place, what stayed with me most was the joy of the three workshop days. Not only because there was space to laugh together, but especially because of the playfulness in Niek’s material and his vivid imagination, which he invited us into. Over the course of the three days, we built a world together, allowing me to find more depth each day in the creative tasks and in the material. It was wonderful to really have that time.
Even though I went into the workshop with an open mindset, I hadn’t expected that we would essentially create a short performance. This motivated me to give more attention to things like theatricality and presence. It also gave us the opportunity to truly play with certain movements, transitions, or qualities. I’m taking home the joy and playfulness of working with Niek. I’ve also been reminded of the power of imagination and the richness of movement that flows from it.”
What did you learn from the intensive that you can use for your further dance development?
Loreen (participant intensive): “Besides developing my movement vocabulary and learning Niek’s movement language, the intensive also helped me gain insight, time and again, into how I function in a creative process. For example, questions like: how quickly do I pick up the material, how do I deal with it when it works or doesn’t work, how do I feel within the group, what is my attitude in this, and what could I contribute if there is space for it.
For me, these are examples of both physical and mental aspects that I take from the intensive, which help me in my further dance development.”