Gia van den Akker
Artistic director
After her grammar school education, Gia van den Akker sought a dance art that involved literature and humanities in addition to music. She studied dance/eurythmy. She obtained a Master of Arts and took refresher courses in BMC (B. Bainbridge Cohen), Presencing Theatre (Arawana Hayashi) and personal leadership at Phoenix in Utrecht. She first worked as an ensemble member. From 1991 she created her own productions in project ensembles or as a soloist. These performances were seen in Europe, South America and Asia. In Italy, she founded and run “La Fabbrica” for 12 years. A studio where productions, workshops, master classes and interactive events took place. Gia came back in the Netherlands as artistic director and choreographer of DeDae, and teacher at HS Leiden. She is inspired by Joseph Beuys’ quote “Art is the true capital” and “Every individual is an artist”. For her, art is about building bridges, connecting people, applying the art of movement to life.
Marthy Hecker
Performer
Marthy Hecker (born 1992) obtained his bachelor’s degree in Teaching Dance/Eurythmy at Hogeschool Leiden in 2017. He followed his minor in Stuttgart. After his bachelor, he followed the Bachelor of Arts at Alanus Hochschule. From 2018-2019, he was part of the Fairy Tale Ensemble in Stuttgart, performing 133 shows in Europe, China and South Africa. In 2019, he founded the Ensemble NorthWest ETC with Tatiana Rudenko and others. He also brings choreography experience, ideas for children’s programmes and a very high motivation to connect and innovate eurythmy. Besides his work in the ensemble, he works as a eurythmy teacher at Leiden University of Applied Sciences and creates performances with children and young people. He guides eurythmy students during their learning journey and lets children and young people experience the value of art.
Tatjana Rudenko
Performer
Tanja Rudenko, born 1993 in Estonia, is a creator, performing artist and organiser. She started her BA in eurythmy in Norway and completed it at the Alanus Hochschule in Germany in 2018. Authentic expression and respect for the body are central to her work. By giving workshops and performances; through various projects and events, she grants people the experience of their wonderful body and creativity. Tanja strives to make art, that sparks dialogue and wants to inspire people to shine.
Besides DeDae, she is part of the artistic duo taama together with Marthy Hecker. She is also assistant coordinator at Bewust Den Haag and gives lessons and projects at school on a freelance basis.
Marie-Pierre Murigneux
Performer
Marie-Pierre Murigneux (born 1992) is a French artist and performer based in The Hague.
[DMA fresco in Paris, BA and MA contemporary arts, and BA of eurythmy in Venice].
Her work at DeDae includes performing, costume making, and planning. Moreover, she develops projects in interdisciplinary arts that involve both visual and performing arts.
“Art is what I do because it allows me to create a reality that incorporates ideals into concrete forms. Movement is my way of changing repetitive patterns and making things more vital and curious.
In that sense, DeDae is for me a unique experience of art and social work, where life is integrated into the practice.”
Juliette Reijnen
Performer
Juliette Reijnen (1995) studied eurythmy at the Dance/Eurythmy teacher training programme of Hogeschool Leiden. From a young age, she has loved dancing. After first completing a bachelor’s degree in Art History at the RU, she followed her passion for dance and found eurythmy dance. She puts this passion into DeDae with immense pleasure and dedication. She is associated with DeDae as a eurythmy dancer and coordinator of tours & sales. She also works as a teacher on the Dance/Eurythmy teacher training programme at the Hogeschool Leiden. ‘For me, DeDae is a workshop in which we investigate and explore the connection with ourselves, the other, society and our audience. For me, eurythmy is a dance form par excellence to make stories visible and tangible. In my workshops, I invite participants to (re)connect with their own bodies, the pleasure that movement brings and to feel a connection to themes in each person’s own personal life through movement.’
Susanne Visbeen
Performer
Susanne Visbeen (born 1998) studied eurythmy at the Docent Dans/Euritmie course at Hogeschool Leiden. From a younger age, by following different dance styles, she developed a passion and interest for movement. ‘Eurythmy for me is the ultimate art form, to express the versatility of life. Eurythmy can contain and enclose everything. I hope to share this with many others.’ She is associated with DeDae as a eurythmy dancer and business and PR coordinator. Besides her work in the ensemble, she also works one day, as a eurythmy teacher and enjoys teaching preschoolers and grade 1 children.
Paula Sengers
Junior Performer
Paula Sengers (1997) obtained her bachelor’s degree in Teaching/Dance Eurythmy at the Hogeschool Leiden in 2022. Prior to this, she completed two more studies, one at the Cosmo Academy (hospitality, leisure and entertainment) and as an All-round Dance Instructor. After eurythmy training, she started working at Waldorf Schools in both Oldenburg and Bremen, Germany. There, she works two days a week. Paula considers artistic work an important part of her life, to continue to develop in eurythmy and express her creativity. This is why she has made the choice to do an internship at DeDae from September 2024. ‘I am incredibly excited to bring the combination of music, words and movement into a beautiful whole with this wonderful ensemble. Eurythmy to me means being in the now and letting people experience the light within.’ Besides her work, she enjoys writing poetry, rollerblading and dancing.
Vacancy Artistic Year
The young eurythmy ensemble DeDae is offering 2 spots for an artistic year in season 2023-2024. Move with DeDae for a year and develop the qualities of an enterprising performing eurythmist.
There is space for someone who:
* Has a passion and dedication for the performing arts
* Passion for working with people in the form of workshops
* Is curious and wants to further develop technically and content-wise
* Has a Bachelor of Eurythmy
* Is communicative and connective
* Fits in with the current core group .
* Is enterprising and also wants to fulfil other tasks within the ensemble
What will you get in return from DeDae:
* Constructive coaching on technique and artistically (e.g. in choreography)
* Performance experience in the new 2023-2024 season programme
* Experience as a member of a professional ensemble
* Lessons in workshop development and performance
* Touring experience as assistant production on older programmes from season 2021-2022/2022-2023
* Portfolio construction (with videos and photos)
* A certificate with quality assessment and hour registration
DeDae rehearses every Thursday and Friday at the Vreedehuis in The Hague, except during tour weeks. You are expected to be present at rehearsals, performances and other activities. The artistic year costs €2,000. Part of this can be recouped through performances and/or workshops.
We aim for a multicultural and diverse group. Given the composition of the current ensemble, we also ask men to apply. Do you not fully recognise yourself in the vacancy description, but are you enthusiastic? Then apply anyway!
Submit motivation letter and CV to Gia van den Akker at gia@dedae.nl
Do you have any questions? Please contact Gia.
Data Dutch Eurythmy Dance Ensemble Foundation
Financial statement 2021:
Financial statements 2021
Annual report 2021:
Annual report season 2021-2022
Financial statements 2022:
Financial statements 2022
Evaluation DeDae Season 2022-2023:
Evaluation DeDae Season 2022-2023
Policy plan 2022-2023:
Policy plan 2022-2023
RSIN number: 816035969
Directors of Dutch Eurythmy Dance Ensemble Foundation (unpaid):
Hans Nijnens (chairman)
Jarla Geerts (secretary)
Tjeerd Walvis (treasurer)