Innovation Award Nederlandse Dansdagen Maastricht

More about the award

In 2022, Nederlandse Dansdagen merged the then two festival prizes (Prijs van de Nederlandse Dansdagen Maastricht and Prijs van de Nederlandse Dansdagen Jong Publiek) into one incentive prize, the Innovation Prize Nederlandse Dansdagen Maastricht. The prize highlights current developments and exceptional talent. 

This incentive prize provides a sum of €25,000, supported by the Municipality of Maastricht, to give the winner more clout in producing their ideas. The new work or creation will be presented for the first time during the following edition of the Nederlandse Dansdagen. 

For the first time in 2025, the nomination is linked to a specific approach, based on the desire to contribute to an inclusive society through dance. This year, the Innovation Award focuses specifically on creators who (want to) create work for or with people who, due to their mental or physical disability or mental vulnerability, are less likely to come into contact with dance. This may involve removing barriers to experiencing dance, but also using dance to enhance physical and mental resilience, or creating a meaningful and distinctive performance for or about people with a disability or mental vulnerability. 

A jury will ultimately nominate three makers from the entries who will pitch their idea for a new performance. The choreographer with the best, most innovative idea will go home with the prize and can get to work creating a new work.

The Nederlandse Dansdagen Maastricht Innovation Award jury consists of:

• Helmy Koolen, manager Economie en Cultuur at Municipality of Maastricht
• André Grekhov, art director at Stichting Sample Culture & Emoves
• Wies Bloemen, art director & choreographer at Danstheater AYA
• Gaia Gonnelli, art director at Dadodans
• Ulrika Kinn Svensson, art director Dance Arts in Context/ Fontys Academy of the Arts