The winner of Project Dance 2026

On Monday evening, 20 April, the final of Project Dans was broadcast on NPO 1. Here, the three finalists competed against one another to demonstrate who has the greatest potential to dance with ISH Dance Collective and claim the title of the Netherlands’ best all-round dancer.

The final was made even more special by a unique semi-final challenge. ISH member Lars de Vos created a choreography for the finalists, in which they performed a duet alongside other ISH members, freestyle footballer Rowdy Heinen, parkour athlete Siebe van der Spijker, gymnast Stasy Terehhova and roller skater Saskia Jungen. In the semi-final, Jayden Ramphal had to leave the programme, after which Simon Nelissen, Pleun Heefer and Sophie van der Heide progressed to the final.

It was a tough task for the jury: choreographer and three-time world hip-hop champion Jennifer Romen, dancer and choreographer Rinus Sprong, known for his own company De Dutch Don’t Dance Division, among other things, and ISH Dance Collective’s own Marco Gerris. All three finalists managed to showcase their versatility, daring and individuality, but Sophie ultimately managed to convince the jury the most.

For 25-year-old Sophie from Nieuw-Vennep, this victory is the fulfilment of a personal dream. Having grown up in her mother’s dance school, where she attended her first dance class as a six-week-old baby, she has lived and breathed dance since childhood. Deep down, she always harboured the dream of becoming a professional dancer, and Project Dans was her chance to make that dream come true.

She has thus won the top prize: a coveted role in Till Death Do Us Part (or Not), a co-production by ISH Dance Collective and Amsterdam Sinfonietta.

Would you like to see Sophie perform live? She will soon be appearing in:

Till Death Do Us Part (or Not) – a co-production by ISH Dance Collective and Amsterdam Sinfonietta