Post Number 9 - The Netherlands

Day 1 – Tilburg

The day we flew to Amsterdam, we decided to call a list of companies that we wanted to do class with and possibly audition for. One of them was Anoukvandijk Dance Company. The company wasn’t rehearsing at this time, but one of the dancers was teaching in Tilburg, which was an hour away from Voorschoten, where we were staying. Her name was Angie Muller, and she gave quite a decent class. We also asked her about auditions and workshops for the company. I learnt a lesson that day. Don’t ask questions like that when there are other people in the studio. As soon as she started talking about auditions the rest of the class pricked up their ears.

We spent the rest of the afternoon in Tilburg, enjoying our typical Dutch lunch of smaak in bread. Doesn’t sound very appetizing, but it was actually quite nice. It’s kind of meaty and cheesy and mustard-y all at the same time. We got a set, which included the best tomato soup I have had and a potato salad for only 5.95€. We also found a lolly shop and a really warm and cosy café called Mugs and Muffins. I had a coconut hot chocolate, and it was amazing.

Day 2 – Den Haag

We managed to get a class with Nederlands Dans Theater. I was pleased, because I wasn’t going to be able to make the cattle call audition because I couldn’t get a flight back in time, unless I forked out over 1000 USD. There we met Lauren Murray, also a WAAPA graduate who had just done a private audition with the junior company, NDT II.

We did class with the main company, but then went upstairs to talk to Linda de Boer to see if we could get a private audition and she said yes. I was very happy, because I would now have the chance to audition. Nat was also very happy, because she wouldn’t have to do the cattle call.

We spent the rest of the day in Den Haag, bumping into Lauren yet again. She explained her schedule to us and I nearly fainted. She was literally running from one place to another without stopping, eating or sleeping. I thought my schedule was hectic! I’m not sure whose schedule is more effective, hers or mine, but I know which one I’d prefer to follow. Mine.

Day 3 – Den Haag/Rotterdam

We arrived at NDT at 8:30am for class with NDT II. I was stressing out about my solo. I hadn’t danced it since October and wasn’t very prepared. Gerard Tibbs, the artistic director of NDT II watched us in class and told us that he would look at our solos in two hours. I was relieved, because we managed to steal one of the studios and do our solos a few times. When the time came to show our solos, I had gotten over my nerves and I thought we both did a good job.

After lunch we decided to head to Rotterdam to watch I Solo Ment , a new work choreographed by Anna van de Broek. I didn’t like it nor hate it. Some parts of it worked, and some parts of it were just downright boring and/or irritating. Nevertheless, it got a standing ovation. I didn’t jump on the bandwagon.

Day 4 – Rotterdam

I’ve always been quite interested in Scapino Ballet Rotterdam, and when I managed to get us a class, I was rather pleased. We did the class at 10am, but they did warn us that nobody would be in to watch us, and private auditions were near impossible. I won’t be able to make the cattle call because I will be doing the Cullberg Ballet audition. It was good to have a look in any case. I did really like it, and I would consider working there at some point. We will see how things go.

We mustered up the energy to walk around Rotterdam a little bit and even visit the art museum there. They had two excellent exhibitions. One featuring a brilliant artist named Charley Throop, and one relating to the scholar Erasmus. Many of the permanent exhibitions were closed due to renovations, which was a bit disappointing.

We headed back to Den Haag to have dinner with my friend Chelsia from YKLS, and some of her colleagues from work. We went to this cute little restaurant that had the best ribs in Den Haag. They were certainly very good, and the dessert made you feel like exploding just looking at it.

Day 5 – Amsterdam

We couldn’t resist it. We had nothing planned for the day, and since we already had a very productive 4 days, we thought we would just go to Amsterdam to have a look around and visit a few museums. Unfortunately we didn’t get to see much of the city, because we spent most of our day in the museums (Van Gogh, Rijksmuseum, FOAM, Museum Van Loon and one I can’t even spell) and it was too dark by 4pm to see very much. Noodle almost lost her wallet, but we managed to find it at the Rijksmuseum, where it had fallen out of her bag while it went through the scanner. The staff found it and went round looking for a blonde girl. Too bad for them, she is now a brunette.

As we walked along the canals towards Waterlooplein, we saw some posters advertising dance of some kind. Turns out it was Ballet Opera Lyon performing William Forsythe’s Limbs Theorem. We could get tickets for €15, so we bought them. Our justification for our decision was the fact that we were in Europe to see what was happening in the dance scene and to learn as much as we can while we are here. I have no regrets whatsoever. The performance was amazing. The dancers inspired me and they deserved the standing ovation that they got.

Unfortunately for us, our time in the Netherlands had come to an end for the time being. We are paying a visit to the neighbours: Belgium.