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Open Call for makers

Over the past ten years, the Junior Company of the Dutch National Ballet and ISH Dance Collective have shown in several successful collaborative projects how ballet and hip-hop complement and reinforce each other. With the NextSteps program, we now also want to give a new generation of makers the opportunity to explore the synergy between these two dance forms. 

Over the past ten years, the Junior Company of Dutch National Ballet and ISH Dance Collective have shown in several successful collaborative projects how ballet and hip-hop complement and enhance each other. With the programme NextSteps, we now aim to give a new generation of creators the opportunity to explore the synergy between these two dance forms.

Are you a new dance maker with an affinity for ballet and/or hip-hop, and do you have an idea for a piece in which you further investigate the interaction between ballet and hip-hop? Then respond to this Open Call and submit your concept plan for a short choreography (10-15 minutes) for two or three dancers. This plan can be based on a theme, a working method, a form idea, or any other angle. The only requirement is that both ballet and hip-hop are represented in the choreography. Additionally, the idea should have a clear structure and should be achievable within a short period of time. If your idea is selected, the choice of music will be decided in consultation afterward. The final choreography will be performed by ballet dancers from the Junior Company and hip-hop dancers (possibly from ISH Dance Collective).

This Open Call is for new makers from all dance forms, with an affinity for ballet and/or hip-hop. By “new makers”, we mean those who are at an early stage in their career as a choreographer and have created a maximum of five choreographies in total.

The selection for NextSteps 2025 will be made by Ernst Meisner (artistic director of the Junior Company of Dutch National Ballet), Marco Gerris (artistic director of ISH Dance Collective), and a creator who has previously choreographed for the Junior Company or ISH. The selected choreographers will work with the dancers in February and March 2025 to bring their new works to life. The final choreographies will be presented on 26 and 27 March at Studio Boekman of Dutch National Opera & Ballet in Amsterdam.

You can submit your concept plan until 23 November 2024, via opencall@operaballet.nl.

Most asked questions

  • A total of 40 hours is available over several days for each of the creators to create a 10-15 minute piece. On March 25 and 26, there will be space in Studio Boekman (in National Opera & Ballet) to edit.  

  • The concept plan you submit is for a work for hip-hop dancers and dancers from the Junior Company of the Dutch National Ballet. The total ensemble for each work will consist of two or three dancers, including at least one ballet dancer.  
    Regarding the ballet dancers: if your idea is selected, please indicate which dancers from the Junior Company you would like to work with, so we can take this into account in the casting. We will determine the final casting based on the wishes of all selected choreographers. 

    Regarding the hip-hop dancers: you may nominate one or two dancers yourself, but we can - if desired - also suggest hip-hop dancers connected to ISH.  

  • The costs for the dancers are covered by ISH Dance Collective and the Junior Company, based on the CAO Drama and Dance.  

    An honorarium per choreographer is available for preparations, rehearsals and (presence during) performances, based on the CAO Toneel en Dans.  

    A lighting design will be made in consultation, and we will explore with you the possibilities for costumes and any props. Any costs will be covered by ISH Dance Collective and the Junior Company.  

  • Please send a draft plan for your choreography to opencall@operaballet.nl no later than November 23, 2024.  

    Please answer at least briefly the following questions:  

    • What is your relation to dance, ballet and/or hip-hop and why are you interested in participating in this project of the Junior Company of the Dutch National Ballet / ISH Dance Collective?  
    • What would you like to show on stage? Name the artistic key points in your plan. State what your inspiration is and how you would like to translate this into choreography. Also mention if you have done any preliminary research on this idea at an earlier stage.  
    • What experience have you gained so far as a dancer and/or maker, and how do you see the possibility of this project for your personal development?  

    Please also include your resume and up to three video links (YouTube links without password).  

  • Any questions can be emailed to Lotte Heeman: l.heeman@operaballet.nl  

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