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Aviation technology, the physicality of dance, running marathons… Meet the multitalented Dutch choreographer Arno Schuitemaker! Dance fans, see his work for the first time in Vancouver March 14-16 when we present If You Could See Me Now.

Who is Arno Schuitemaker? 

I am an artist and choreographer based in Amsterdam in the Netherlands. About ten years ago I started my own company and I have been collaborating closely with an outstanding team of artists. Breaking down the boundaries between dance, performance, and visual art, my work is very physical, and I give a big role to the music and lighting, resulting in high-energy and immersive performances.

You trained in aviation technology – how and why did you pivot to dance?

True! I saw my first dance performance when I was still a student in aeronautical engineering. I was completely mesmerized. After I completed my master’s degree, I decided to change course and to study contemporary dance. Basically, I followed my heart. And I am happy I did!

Tell us about If You Could See Me Now: what is the inspiration behind it?

I was curious about creating a performance characterized by continuous, non-stop motion. The dancers keep and keep going, while they constantly transform their movements. It explores questions related to change: How do you adapt? How do you keep going and moving forward? What new freedoms can you discover? The questions held a specific personal significance for me when I created If You Could See Me Now, yet simultaneously, the performance resonates universally.

This work has been performed across Europe – how have audiences responded? What kind of experience do you think they have?

Wherever we performed, there was always something strong that seemed to resonate with the audience. The manner in which they are carried along by the movements of the three dancers, the meticulous intertwining of the music and lighting, and the way the dancers perform this work makes it feel as though the performance communicates directly from one human to another.

What skills do you look for in the dancers to perform the work?

The ability to give yourself fully to the physicality of the work while staying true to your authentic self is a crucial skill for me. This grants the dancers an individual identity, making the performance personal and even intimate in the sense that it feels like you get to know the dancers a bit.

What might people be surprised to know about you?

That I love running marathons!

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The Dance Centre presents the Global Dance Connections Series
Arno Schuitemaker: If You Could See Me Now
March 14-16, 2024 | 8pm

Scotiabank Dance Centre

Info and Tickets
Photos: Piotr Jaruga and Desire van den Berg

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