The Fast Forward programme offers Wubkje Kuindersma an opportunity to further her development as a choreographer and to expand her international network. She will focus on further exploring artistic leadership and wants to find out what it means to manage a dance company in today’s world.

Additionally, she will research how, as a choreographer and artistic leader, one can achieve the best possible result while respecting your own and other people’s wellbeing. Given the parallels between dance and top sport, she will attend leadership courses at the Johan Cruyff Institute in Barcelona and at the University of Cambridge. At the same time, in her work as choreographer she will explore the expression of emotionality in abstract dance, at Compania Nacional de Danza in Madrid and other places.

"I am curious about sustainable leadership and new programming methods. I look forward to following inspiring leaders in the dance world. In an international context, I will follow artist director David McAllister at the West Australian Ballet, Francesca Harper at Alvin Ailey Dance, and Wendy Whelan at the New York City Ballet. Closer to home I will follow the Norwegian National Ballet, led by Ingrid Lorentzen. I can’t wait to start!’’ – Wubkje Kuindersma

For Benjamin Kuitenbrouwer, the Fast Forward programme is a reason to look back on the first ten years of his life as an artist, and to contemplate where he wants to be ten years from now.

Over the years he mainly focussed on experimenting with language, but now he is eager to delve more into the physical sides of circus. How can the content of words find expression in acrobatic material? During Fast Forward he will go in search of a deeper understanding of his specific form of circus, and will also investigate new forms together with international partners.

He will return to his roots in Montreal, where he will work with the company 7 Fingers, which originally inspired him to embark on circus. In France he will work with Matthieu Gary of Compagnie La Volte. Finally, he will work with a coach to further flesh out his position as artistic leader.

“I want to make generous performances that really touch people. I want to create work that gives people hope and optimism, and that lots of people find accessible. I believe that circus has enormous power. Because I like to surround myself with other people in my projects, I sometimes find it hard to follow my own intuition. This is something I want to work on, also because I see a wonderful parallel between this vulnerable search for intuition and once again connecting with my physical craft in circus. After all, circus work is inherently vulnerable due to the physical aspect and the possibility of failing on stage.” – Benjamin Kuitenbrouwer (Monki)

For their Fast Forward programme, artistic leaders Guy Corneille and Josephine van Rheenen of De Dansers will collaborate with the international makers Jan Martens and Femke Gyselinck of the Antwerp-based dance company GRIP and the Austrian choreographer Simon Mayer. Like Guy and Josephine, their work centres on dance and music in a way that is not practiced in the Netherlands. With the youth performing arts centre BRONKS in Brussels, they will investigate what their new insights can mean with a view to making work for young audiences.

“With each of the three dance makers and their distinctive own work practices, we feel a strong affinity with respect to human expressiveness and the intimate role of music. It is precisely this combination of affinity and difference that motivates us to want to understand their work practice better. Thanks to Fast Forward, we can further develop the artistic signature of our dance concerts. Additionally, the collaborations will contribute to our ambitions in terms of strengthening our international network.” – Guy Corneille and Josephine van Rheenen

Coloray is a songwriter by trade. In the past few years he released two albums that address our relationship to technology and the digital world. His combination of acoustic and electronic music is well-suited for conversion into a live audiovisual show. This is primarily the field he wishes to explore further as part of the Fast Forward programme.

How can you use music and visuals to optimally reinforce each other? Raynor will complete residencies at the Funkhouse Studios in Germany and at theThe Royal Studio in Portugal. He will also follow a number of coaching sessions by Martyn, a producer whose music has been released by Brainfeeder and Hyperdub, among others.

"I really look forward to getting started on the Fast Forward programme. Thanks to the support of the Performing Arts Fund NL, I have the opportunity to further explore my practice and specifically the intersecting field of songwriting, electronic music and technology. The goal is find a new form of performance in which all elements seamlessly blend together and where electronic music in a live setting is as much of an experience as an acoustic concert. I want to bring the computer to life.” – Raynor de Groot

Dionne’s roots as an artist trace back to theatre, but in her current practice she combines various disciplines. As part of her Fast Forward programme, she will follow two interdisciplinary artists, Njoki Ngumi of The Nest Collective and film maker Cecile Emeke. With them she will research how she can enhance her own signature through co-creation. ‘Remediation’ is an important concept for her: the conversion of a story into a new medium.

"The Fast Forward programme offers me an opportunity to more clearly etch out and formulate my hybrid form of artistic practice. The Nest Collective in Nairobi is a good example of where the multidisciplinary approach, representation and a strong dose of social impact is a matter of course. I identify with that, as a maker. With Black Milk as a case study, I will use remediation to further develop and amplify the story. I am looking forward to it so much!” – Dionne Verwey.   

The Fast Forward programme offers talented mid-career makers an opportunity to develop their artistic practice in an international context. By working with leading international producers, selected performing artists can boost their development and expand their international network.
Want to know more about Fast Forward? More information is available  here.