Ellen Landa

Ellen Landa

Dance and music were almost a matter of course in Ellen Landa's childhood home.

"My grandparents danced, my aunt took dance classes, and I often danced at home with my mother after her dance lessons." When Ellen was four, she 'finally' got to go to lessons herself. "I loved it, the pink tutu, the chance to discover dance and to make dances myself, with friends, too."

Her guitar-playing father simultaneously encourages Ellen and her brothers to try out every possible instrument. Ellen eventually chooses the flute, her twin brother, born with an autistic disorder, the drum kit. "Life wasn't always easy for us - I often had trouble keeping up at school - but my parents always stressed the positive side. On everything that went well, on what we did enjoy."

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Video by Iris Hendriks // Special thanks to Maritiem Museum

 

Go-getter

In eighth grade at primary school, Ellen is already dancing five days a week. She has plenty of talent, but finding a dance course is difficult. "Because I was advised to go to secondary school and most ballet academies teach at higher professional education level. But 'can't' doesn't exist for Ellen. "I've always had a mind of my own, and I'm a great go-getter, so I didn't let myself get sidetracked.

She still ended up in the preparatory course at ArtEZ in Venlo, from where she moved on to a senior secondary vocational education dance course in Haarlem, and then managed to get her diploma in dance at ArtEZ in Arnhem. "I am happy with that last, extra course. The enormous range of styles taught there has made me a richer dancer."

Ellen Landa

" 'Cannot' does not exist for me

 

Welcome

In the end, Ellen can choose from no fewer than five work placement contracts. The choice fell on Scapino, the company she had dreamed of as a child.

"I thought it was terrifying that I was allowed to stand among all those wonderful dancers. But I soon realised that everyone is different at Scapino. One dancer is more technical, another more modern, and yet another has a completely unique style. I soon felt welcome as the person and the dancer I am. They wanted to see Éllen, rather than someone who fits this or that particular mould. That gave a lot of peace."

Curriculum Vitae

Born
1991, Waalwijk, The Netherlands

Education
- Preparatory and advanced dance education at ArtEZ
- Secondary education dance course Nova College Haarlem

Previously danced at
- Rampart Dance Company
- LeineRoebana

At Scapino since
2014

Performed in
Pas de Deux, TING!, Pablo, Scala, TWOOLS, The Great Bean, What Remains, Casablanca, The Square 2, Oscar

Ellen Landa

Twin sister

Her first performance with Scapino, her first solo, the collaboration with choreographer Ryan Djojokarso, productions such as Scala and TING! , all the beautiful things she was allowed to do together with fellow dancer Filip Wagrodzki: there is so much that is dear to her.

A special recent experience is her performance in Opera Melancholica by Opera2Day. "I had the role of an imaginary twin sister, how coincidental." But perhaps most dear to her heart is the benefit gala at which she danced with Merel, a patient of Sophia Children's Hospital. "Seeing her shine meant so much to me."

Ellen Landa

"I have been taking singing lessons since the beginning of 2020. I've always sung, once at home, now in the dressing room, but when I do something, I prefer to do it as well as possible.

 

Op the water

What Ellen finds most important is that people can be who they are, even if they don't fit the 'perfect picture'. "That we let people be their own selves, are kind to each other, take care of each other." In addition: "Life goes by so fast, so let's enjoy it too, be aware of how beautiful life is." She herself experiences this most on her parents' sailing boat. "When I'm on the water, I can let go of everything, really be in the moment."

 

Photography: Khalid Amakran | Interview: Astrid van Leeuwen

This season featuring in

  • Vrouw met rode lippen die mysterieus kijkt en in het spiegelbeeld zwoel

    Origin

    An absurdist satire and search for hope in dark times. Origin is created by three emerging avant-garde dance makers with a socially critical perspective in their work.

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.
  • Man met vegen opgezocht zit op een bed in het bos en kijkt langs de camera. Op de achtergrond lopen een vrouw en een kind hand in hand.

    Song of the dark forest

    A moving, compelling and comforting performance, performed by the complete group of dancers of Scapino, an opera singer and live music by the DoelenEnsemble.
  • 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.
  • NRJO Rite Here Rite Now

    Rite Here Rite Now

    A unique collaboration of the New Rotterdam Jazz Orchestra, LantarenVenster and Scapino Ballet Rotterdam.
  • 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.
  • Een leeg theater met op het podium 2 trompettisten

    Music in Motion

    The Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and Scapino Ballet Rotterdam have joined forces for a new video project: Music in motion.
  • Opera Melancholica

    Opera Melancholica

    A portrait of melancholiac Roderick Usher and his twin sister Madeline, rendered by both a soprano and a female dancer. Showing all corners of the human mind.
  • Wit geschminkt persoon met zijn vingers om zijn snor

    Holland & Le Chat Noir

    The superb, theatrical dance of this captivating diptych transports audiences to the Golden Age and the Paris Revue. Two iconic pieces by choreographer Ed Wubbe in one program.
  • TOF!

    TOF! at the Parade

    Coming home to a place that never changes. Where you can be yourself and where things are good. With that ideal in mind, seven dancers begin their journey.
  • Twee dansers in intiem duet

    Pas de Deux

    Pas de Deux is a pure music and dance experience. Crystal clear piano by Michiel Borstlap with the eye-catching choreographies of Ed Wubbe, danced by twelve dancers of Scapino Ballet Rotterdam.
  • 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.
  • TWOOLS 17

    TWOOLS 17

    Under the motto "More dance does not fit in" Scapino Ballet Rotterdam presents TWOOLS17. In 75 minutes 22 dancers dance in 8 pieces by 7 choreographers.