Daphne van Dooren - foto Khalid Amakran

Daphne van Dooren

She always wondered: what would it be like to wake up in the Netherlands? After dancing in several countries, it was bound to happen, says Daphne van Dooren, born in Switzerland to Dutch parents.

"I was allowed to do a private audition at Scapino, and there seemed to be a click from both sides. But hey, there are so many people who want this, so I didn't expect much from it. Just when I was about to accept a contract in France, Ed Wubbe called. I was flabbergasted! There was a place for me."
And yes, that waking up on Dutch soil immediately felt very good. "The Dutch openness and spontaneity suit me. Swiss people are often more closed and tense. I notice that especially now that I live here. Nowadays, when I visit Switzerland, I often think: 'People, please relax'."

Content blocked

The external content is hidden because you have not yet given permission to place social media cookies.
https://vimeo.com/862050612/ee8471d13c?share=copy

Video by Iris Hendriks // Special thanks to ss Rotterdam

Talent for entertainment

At the age of eleven, Daphne's desire to become a dancer was already crystal clear. "As a child, I was always dancing and entertaining. Classmates often said: do that one again, or do that part again. I inherited that talent for entertainment from my mother. She is a real character."

At the dance academy, the teachers mainly see a classical dancer in her, but Daphne herself enjoys the modern dance and improvisation lessons at least as much. She considers herself lucky that she has been able to do just about anything since she was eighteen.

"At the Ballett Oper Graz I did a lot of pointe work, but also opera, operetta and musicals. In Germany, I worked with a former Pina Bausch dancer, where I learned to give everything theatrically and emotionally. And then I started my own group with two dancers, Habemus Corpus. That was a great time: travelling around together in a little car and being responsible for everything that goes into a dance performance."

Dahne van Dooren

"I can live out my imagination here.

Dark edge

Nowhere has she stayed as long as at Scapino. "I felt at home here immediately. The way Ed Wubbe approaches dance feels very natural to me. The theatrical aspect is important to him; his work often has a dark edge, or just an absurd side. That suits me. I can use my imagination to the full."
Incidentally, she is not choosy, and enjoys working with other choreographers just as much. "You can learn something from everyone, take something away from every experience. Whether a performance is really special also has a lot to do with you, with the things you are dealing with at that moment as a person."

Curriculum Vitae

Born
1991, Basel, Switzerland (from Dutch parents)

Education
Ballettschule Theater Basel

Previously danced with
- Ballett Oper Graz, Oostenrijk
- Cinevox Junior Company, Zwitserland
- Ballett Staatstheater Darmstadt, Duitsland
- Habemus Corpus, Spanje

With Scapino since
2015

Scholarships, awards and prizes
- 3d prize Solo-Tanz-Festival Stuttgart, with Before Time - 2014
- 1st prize Barcelona International Dance Competition, with The Red Purse - 2014

Daphne van Dooren

"I live for the day and hope, above all, to be able to do many things that I fully support and in which I can express a part of myself.

Daphne van Dooren

Writing

Listening to each other and not judging too quickly, that is what Daphne finds important. "After all, you don't know the other person's story, don't know what he or she is going through at that moment." Every day she writes, usually in English, in her 'journal'. About her goals for the day, about gratitude, being focused, being kind to yourself and about giving love to others. But she also records what she does and has done. "Because I write so much, I am very present in the moment and I also remember a lot. Ask me what I did four years ago today and with whom, and I can tell you exactly."

 

Photography: Khalid Amakran | Interview: Astrid van Leeuwen

Content blocked

The external content is hidden because you have not yet given permission to place social media cookies.
https://vimeo.com/939566486?share=copy

This season featuring in

  • Vier vervreemdende personen in zwarte kleding tegen een donkerblauwe achtergrond

    Cathedral

    A wondrous journey into tomorrow's world and a search for what makes us human. A revival of the successful production by choreographer Marcos Morau.

Danced in a.o.

  • Vrouw in een zwart korset met blote armen en een grote gouden tooi op het hoofd in de vorm van de manen van een paard. Zij heeft haar armen sierlijk geheven alsof zij loopt. De achtergrond is goud met een geverfde cirkel.

    Oscar

    A tribute to Oscar Carré with dance, theatre, circus and live music by Blaudzun. With Oscar, artistic director Ed Wubbe bids farewell to Scapino after 30 years.
  • Beeld met vijf dansers die elkaar bij de armen vasthouden met een in het midden die probeert te ontsnappen. Tegen een oranje achtergrond met een geverfd kruis.

    Origin 2024

    For Origin, Ed Wubbe brings two extraordinary, international choreographers to The Netherlands: Xingxing Gong and Lior Tavori.
  • Een familie is te zien op een bruine bank voor een blauwe achtergrond. De familie kijkt in de camera. Naast de familie staat een dame met grote pruik, zonnebril, oranje hakken, lichtblauw mantelpak en een roze huid.

    Pinocchio Effect

    Dance, theatre, live video and blunt performances in a family production for everyone between the ages of 10 and 110.
  • Vergrijsd-blauwe afbeelding met daarop twee personen met rood haar. De vrouw vooraan heeft een arm op haar heup en leunt naar achteren. Achter haar staat een man met zijn armen als pijl en boog.

    Two Tales

    Young emerging dance makers tell poignant stories with solid roots in the lore and customs of their native land.
  • Casablanca

    Casablanca

    Casablanca is a visual performance about passion, freedom and desire for a better world.
  • Vrouw in een zwart korset met blote armen en een grote gouden tooi op het hoofd in de vorm van de manen van een paard. Zij heeft haar armen sierlijk geheven alsof zij loopt. De achtergrond is goud met een geverfde cirkel.

    Oscar

    Carré en Scapino Ballet presenteren: Oscar, een hommage aan Oscar Carré met dans, theater, circus én live muziek van Blaudzun. Exclusief te zien in Carré.
  • Danser op een rode achtergrond met geverfde letter X. Hij draagt een zwarte glimmende top en strekt zijn armen uit richting de camera.

    The Square2

    Four young makers meet eachother in The Square2, a new full-length production of Scapino Ballet Rotterdam.
  • Casablanca

    Duplicate of Casablanca

    Casablanca is a visual performance about passion, freedom and desire for a better world.
  • Vier rechthoekken met daarin een deel van een menselijk lichaam, zodat zij samen een volledig danserslichaam vormen

    The Square Recordings

    Young makers go on an adventure in this online edition of The Square.
  • Leslie Humbert in The Great Bean

    The Great Bean

    Circus, illusionism, variety and dance: The Great Bean takes place in the atmosphere of the roaring twenties, the emergence of jazz, Hollywood and vaudeville.
  • The Blend

    The Blend

    Scapino starts the new season at the Van Nelle Fabriek, Rotterdam icon and world heritage monument.
  • Pearl

    Pearl

    World class dance, stunning costumes and mesmerising music by composers like Vivaldi.
  • Cathedral campagnebeeld

    Cathedral 2019/2020

    Accompanied by the spiritual music of Arvo Pärt, pure as a heartbeat, Cathedral asks us to reflect on the nature of existence.
  • Zes personen in maritieme kleding staand in een stalen raam als van een schip

    All Hands on Deck

    Scapino and Släpstick (formerly know as Wëreldbänd) bring out the best in each other with superb combinations of dance, physical comedy, slapstick, music and theatre.
  • twools_headerweb.jpg

    TWOOLS 18

    TWOOLS 18 appears to be the last in the series. It is a worthy finale with world premieres by choreographers Ryan Djojokarso, Joeri Dubbe and Maciej Kuzminski.
  • TING! | choreografie Ed Wubbe (foto Eric Fecken)

    TING!

    Dance, music and circus come together on and above a rotating arena to create an enchanting spectacle.
  • Pablo campagnebeeld

    Pablo

    Pablo is an exciting spectacle with dance, theater and orchestra inspired by the lifetime of Spanish artist Pablo Picasso.
  • TING! duet Bonnie en Mischa

    TING!

    Dance, music and circus come together on and above a rotating arena to create an enchanting spectacle.