Nederlandse Dansdagen launches dansLAB jong
Nederlandse Dansdagen is launching a pilot of dansLAB jong, a new development programme for young choreographers and dancers who wish to explore the creation of dance for children and young people. Through this initiative, Dutch Dance Days aims, together with its partners, to contribute to a strong future for children’s and youth dance, a sector in which the influx of new creators has visibly declined in recent years.
DansLAB jong brings together arts education, professional practice and young audiences in an intensive six-month programme. Young artists are given the space to explore, experiment and create, whilst children and young people are actively involved as discussion partners within the artistic process.
First creators have started
Since 1 June, choreographers Klara Mandahl and Leen Wachters have been the first participants to join the programme. Over the coming months, they will be developing new work for young audiences in collaboration with dance students from Fontys Academy of the Arts. The focus will not only be on artistic questions, but also on engaging with children and young people themselves. How does a child view dance? What appeals to a young person? And how does a performance come about that is created not just for, but also with, a young audience?
“Children and young people possess an enormous capacity for imagination and their own view of the world,” say the initiators. “With dansLAB Jong, we want to challenge creators to take those perspectives seriously and make them part of their artistic process.”
Young audience as co-creator
Throughout the project, the creators work alongside dance students, coaches, programmers and professionals from the youth dance sector. Through open rehearsals, co-creation sessions, movement-based focus groups and meetings with school classes, children and young people are actively involved in the development of the work. The project thus bridges the gap between education and professional practice, offering young creators a safe environment in which to explore, experiment and develop professionally.
Presentations during the Nederlandse Dansdagen
The results of the pilot will be presented in October 2026 during the Dutch Dance Days in Maastricht. The audience will not only see the final result, but also gain an insight into the creative process behind new youth dance repertoire.
Building the future of youth dance together
Through ‘dansLAB jong’, the Dutch Dance Days is making a significant investment in sustainable networks, talent development and knowledge-sharing within the youth dance sector. The programme is therefore not only an artistic experiment, but also a long-term investment in the future of dance for and with younger generations.
Nederlandse Dansdagen is developing ‘dansLAB jong’ in collaboration with Fontys Academy of the Arts, Theater aan het Vrijthof and SALLY Dance Company Maastricht. The project is made possible in part by the ELJA Foundation.
