Bas van der Kruk (Dansateliers)

Dansateliers, one of the creative partners in DANSLOKAAL, nominates choreographer Bas van der Kruk for the twelfth edition of the talent development project. In 2024 he will create new work with the dancers of Conny Janssen Danst.

In primary school, Bas lip-synced to Madonna, wearing a tied-up white t-shirt and a borrowed blonde wig. Because of this, Bas attended the Havo for Music and Dance at Codarts in Rotterdam, graduated in 2014 as a performing dancer from the Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance in London, and obtained a master’s degree in Applied Ethics (2016) from Utrecht University and in Choreography (2023) from Fontys Academy of the Arts / Codarts. Currently, Bas teaches Dance and Philosophy at Fontys and is active as a creator and performer.

Bas uses movement to bring people together and to bring visual images to life. To give meaning to the moment we share with everyone present. To experience and question something together. To remain curious. This is where philosophy and dance come together for Bas. Some subjects, such as claiming space, makeability, vanity, visibility, understanding, and misunderstanding remain sources of inspiration. How do we ensure that we remain open to what is different? To change? To each other? And preferably with a bit of glitter, fun, and self-mockery.

Bas created, among others, the interactive performances “Wat Nu?!” and “_i_C_O_N_i_C.” In “Wat Nu?!”, Bas takes the audience along in a collective creative process, where freedom, fuchsia, and engaging in conversation are the main themes. “_i_C_O_N_i_C” is the end result of an exploration into the role of the performing facilitator who engages with the audience and the theme of vanity. For World AIDS Day, Bas created the video work “Als je het vertelt” (“If You Tell It”). The video gives a voice to young people living with HIV.

We asked Bas a few questions about the creation process. Read the full interview here.