Nominees for the VSCD Swans 2025

Nominees Zwaan most impressive dance production 2025:

Ties Unseen by Christos Papadopoulos (NDT 1)
The jury about Ties Unseen: With a wonderfully detailed, intoxicating swarm choreography, Christos Papadopoulos impressively stretches the boundaries of what choreography can be. With an almost imperceptible build-up and without ever coming to a complete standstill, Ties Unseen tells an associative story about humans and their invisible bonds with each other, and about the human connection with the planet and other living beings.

Raging Against Various Elements by Connor Schumacher (ARK/Connor Schumacher)
The jury about Raging Against Various Elements: Raging Against Various Elements moves towards a joyful release while sharing a deeply personal sadness along the way. Refreshing, connecting and innovative, Schumacher explicitly invites his audience to move and experience. In a contagious interplay with dance idioms from jazz dance and the club scene, R.A.V.E. celebrates life against a powerful, breathing backdrop by Boris Acket and Elsemarijn Bruijs.

JAH! by Dalton Jansen (Blackbirds and Theater Rotterdam in co-production with De Coproducers & Summer Dance Forever) 
The jury about JAH! : Dalton Jansen tells a poignant personal story about his complicated relationship with his father and the story of a group of black men who have been overlooked or kept out of the picture for too long. JAH! makes it possible to feel what it is like to be a Rastafarian in Western society, dismantles stereotypes and shows the gentle strength of each of these sons and fathers.

Nominees Zwaan most impressive dance performance 2025:

Rafael Belinha for his role in GOATS (Sarah Baltzinger & Isaiah Wilson/ Scapino Ballet Rotterdam and RIDCC In co-production with Theater Bielefeld & Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg)
The jury about Rafael: Humour in dance is exceptional and complex. With his timing, expression and bravura, Rafael Belinha is a remarkably complete young dancer who transforms with ease and impresses in all aspects of the dance profession. Fast, tight, explosive and light-footed, with a playful jumping power that suits his role.

Evelien Jansen for her role in Tender Resistance (Faizah Grootens/ Korzo)
The jury about Evelien: This exceptional dancer presents herself as sincere and vulnerable. She dances without tricks or embellishment, using her body to tell stories about identity and self-preservation, which also generate friction. Jansen, a true dancer of today, captures this in a contrasting physicality and in partner work in which one plus one equals three.

Dancers NDT 1 & S-E-D for Into the Hairy (Nederlands Dans Theater and Sharon Eyal Dance)
The jury about the dancers: As an exception, the jury nominates an ensemble for the most impressive dance performance. The 28-member dance group, composed of NDT 1 plus dancers from the French company S-E-D, delivers a mind-boggling collective performance with this technically challenging work. On their dystopian journey through a world thrown off balance, the group shifts the definition of the word “teamwork” to an almost telepathic form of coexistence.

Nominees Jonge Zwaan most impressive youth dance production 2025:

Bout! (6+) by Andreas Denk (plan d-) 
The jury about Bout! (6+): In Bout!, three dancers engage in an inimitable way with objects that appear to have been sourced from barns and cellars. Chaos and chance prevail, but upon closer inspection, one notices that this chance is precisely choreographed.

Klein, klein vogeltje (4+) by Giorgio Costa (Lloydscompany)
The jury about Klein, klein vogeltje (4+): In Klein, klein vogeltje, the original and surprising hip-hop moves are fully integrated into the story, such as in the wide variety of flying movements that Raffie tries to make, later helped by the brothers giving him a lift. This beautifully expresses the theme of freedom and daring to dream. 

Terecht (12+) by Maarten Smit i.c.w. Davey Bakker (Wabi Sabi Theater i.c.w. Het Houten Huis, Stichting Herstel en Terugkeer)
The jury about Terecht (12+): Terecht is an urgent performance in which the three performers rapidly switch characters and their detailed movements prove to be a powerful means of communication. The audience is challenged to constantly change perspective, creating a layered theatre experience.

Nominees Jonge Zwaan most impressive youth dance performance 2025:

Sam Corver for his role in LOEV (8+) (Ryan Djojokarso/ Danstheater AYA In co-production with Maat Saxophone Quartet).
The jury about Sam: Sam Corver is a stable partner in Loev when interacting with his fellow dancers. You can see that he is above the material, allowing him to be completely open to what is happening in the moment. He uses his acrobatic dance style to express both vulnerability and strength.

Jillis Roshanali for his role in De Notenkraker (6-106 jaar) (Jeroen Verbruggen/ Introdans)
The jury about Jillis: Jillis Roshanali manages to infuse his rock-solid technique with striking expressiveness and flair. He turns Drosselmeijer into a multi-layered character: aloof and eccentric, funny and also human. His charisma is palpable from the moment he appears on stage until the very last moment of the performance.

Amber Veltman for her role in Terecht (12+) (Maarten Smit i.s.m. Davey Bakker/ Wabi Sabi Theater i.c.w. Het Houten Huis, Stichting Herstel en Terugkeer)
The jury about Amber: Amber Veltman excels in effortlessly switching between and integrating dance, text and performance, as well as in interacting with her fellow performers. She knows how to convey deep emotions in a poignant way and confuses the audience about what is right and wrong. The intensity of her dance ensures that you keep watching her.

The Dance Jury of the Swans 2024-2025 consists of:

• Joery Wilbers (president), director De Domijnen Sittard
• John Agesilas, co-artistic director Summer Dance Forever and Foundation Amsterdam Hiphop Center, teacher AHK
• Wendy Lubberding, journalist
• Mitchell-Lee van Rooij, former dancer and marketer Korzo
• Julie Vegter, dance programmer at Vondelpark Open Air Theatre
• Dave Schwab, head of programming at Theater Rotterdam 
• Lynn Bartels, Programmer and artistic core teacher of dance theatre de Meervaart

The Young Swans 2024-2025 Youth Dance Jury consists of:

• Liesbeth Wildschut, (president), dance scholar
• Erik Kaiel, choreographer
• Janneke Schmeitz, festival coordinator schrit_tmacher just dance! 
• Eline van der Stoep, Programmer youth and education at Theater Zuidplein
• Sanne Berger, Youth & education programme maker at Theater aan de Parade
• Jasper van Luijk, Artistic director and choreographer at SHIFFT

The VSCD Dance Awards have been presented since 1983.  The winners receive a bronze statue created by choreographer and visual artist Toer van Schayk.

The Zwanen are made possible in part by the VriendenLoterij.