Hoop! (12+) by Wies Bloemen
Hoop! (12+) by Wies Bloemen (Danstheater AYA) is nominated for the Jonge Zwaan meest indrukwekkende jeugddansproductie 2024.
Jury about the nomination
‘’In her farewell performance as artistic director of Danstheater AYA, Wies Bloemen generously gives four young dancers the space to showcase their diverse qualities to a string of pop songs that revolve around hope in a not-so-hopeful world.‘’
About Wies Bloemen
In 1990, Wies Bloemen founded Danstheater AYA, initially as dance theatre for adults. Since the both national and international success of her first youth performance Bronsttijd (1996), she has focused on young audiences. Wies Bloemen creates dance theatre out of a love for the direct, the earthly, the violent. In her work, Bloemen integrates various disciplines with dance, such as text, music, song and image. Her performances convey great emotions and vulnerability.
During her career, Wies Bloemen created more than 50 performances for young people; meanwhile, AYA has become a household name and the Dutch performing arts have become indispensable.
Wies Bloemen's versatility and wilfulness are not only reflected in the course of her career, but also in the performances themselves. She always focuses on current topics that are relevant to young people. In that sense, it is a vibrant time for dance, with all the social and moral issues at play.
After 34 years with AYA as founder, choreographer and artistic director, she handed over artistic leadership to Ryan Djojokarso in March 2024. However, she will not stop creating, which for her is the same as stopping breathing, says Wies Bloemen.
Image by: Menno van der Meulen
“In her farewell performance as artistic director of Danstheater AYA, Wies Bloemen generously gives four young dancers the space to showcase their diverse qualities to a string of pop songs centred on hope in a not-so-hopeful world.”