Hans Tuerlings

Hans Tuerlings began his training at the dance department of the Brabant Conservatoire, but switched to the Rotterdam Dance Academy under Lucas Hoving. After graduating, he became a dancer at the Penta Theatre. Only a year later, he decided to become a choreographer, and from the mid-seventies onwards, he conquered a place for himself with contrary and contemporary work.

At the invitation of artistic director Kathy Gosschalk, Tuerlings moved to Werkcentrum Dans where he created his pieces between 1976 and 1981. In the same period he also made work for Nederlands Danstheater and Scapino Ballet Rotterdam.

Tuerlings sought the area of tension between dance and theatre. He was more concerned with aesthetic eloquence than virtuosity. He separated dance from music, was one of the first Dutch dance makers to work with text, and sought out collaborations outside professional dance, for example with stage directors or amateur dancers.

Between 1981 and 1990, Tuerlings worked as a freelancer for Introdans, Bart Stuyf, Reflex, De Voorziening and Nationaal Fonds. In 1990, he founded his own company in Tilburg, Raz Dansvoorziening van het Zuiden. Raz performances were characterised by the integration of music, film, literature and visual art. The company was successful in the Netherlands and abroad with performances and cycles such as De Reis 1-4 (1992-1996), Mooi en Lelijk (1994), Casa del Sogno (from 1997) and the triptych Nieuwe Blijdschap-Vrolijke Opvatting-Wensloos Gelukkig (2004-2006).

At Scapino Ballet Rotterdam, Has Tuerlings devised the concept of an 'Opéra de Danse' for TWOOLS At The Opera (TWOOLS12) with Ed Wubbe in 2010. Tuerlings wrote the libretto and directed. It wasn't his first for Scapino. In 1976 Hans Tuerlings created his first piece for Scapino Koffie voor vijf (Coffee for five) and in 2007 he made Tous les jours, a tous points de vue, on va de mieux en mieux.

Hans Tuerlings won the 1st prize in the International Choreography Competition Groningen in 1998. In 2000 he received the Dutch Choreography Prize from the VSCD. In 2006 he received the Dansprijs Brabant from the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds Noord-Brabant.