Jozefien Debaillie
With a ballet teacher as a mother, Jozefien Debaillie ended up in dance class as a toddler. "That was easier than getting a babysitter." Because Jozefien is good at learning and her father thinks a solid education is important, she eventually goes to secondary school with an ambitious subject package.
But unlike at primary school, she hates it there. "Dance had become more and more of a necessity. I couldn't do it: sitting in school all day." She was still allowed to audition at the Royal Ballet School in Antwerp, but was rejected to her horror: "I was too small, too fat, had too short arms and legs. My dream was in tatters.
Video by Iris Hendriks // Special thanks to the Van Nelle Fabriek Rotterdam
Cultural change
A year later, she was accepted after all, but in puberty the uncertainty struck again. "I felt like I was still that short, fat girl. There was little attention paid to nutrition and health at the ballet school. I struggled to look the way a dancer 'should'.
Because she did not feel ready for the professional world after the course, she continued her studies at Codarts. A revelation. "There was so much room for creativity there. Work placements, various freelance jobs and shorter contracts follow, but it is the time of Halbe Zijlstra's 'culture slash' and when Jozefien hears that Scapino is in need of dancers, she overcomes her trepidation and does an audition.
I used to dance only in primary colours, now I touch all the colours.
Consolation project
However, her start at Scapino was not easy. "Before I started, I had become seriously ill in Malaysia. I was exhausted, suffered from injuries and still had problems with my own body. I did have doubts at the time about whether I should stay, and I'm sure they had doubts about me at Scapino too."
The turning point came in 2016 when almost all the dancers took part in an opera project in Paris, and Ed Wubbe created Risonanza, a duet from the full-length production Pas de Deux, for those who stayed behind - Jozefien and Rubén Garcia Arabit. "It was a kind of 'consolation project', but there was such a click between the three of us and Michiel Borstlap's music. Very inspiring and - also because of the nomination for a Zwaan I received for this role - very confirming. After that, everything fell into place."
Curriculum Vitae
Born
1987, Heule, Belgium
Education
- Royal Ballet School Antwerp
- Codarts Rotterdam
Previously danced at
De Meekers, Korzo, Dansgroep Krisztina de Châtel, Dansgroep Amsterdam and on a project basis in the United States, Poland and Austria
At Scapino since
2013
Scholarships, awards and prizes
Nomination ‘Swan for Most Impressive Dance Performance’ for her role in Pas de Deux - 2016
I'll see where life takes me, I have so many interests. But if I could, I would keep dancing all my life.
Daughters
Other highlights follow, in the cooperation with Ed Wubbe and also with Itamar Serussi and Marcos Morau, "who both made me search very deeply within myself to go to extremes". All this has also created more space in her private life: her daughter Lior was born in 2018, followed by daughter Vesper in 2021. She calls motherhood 'life changing'. "I have learned so much about my body and have become much more sensitive. I used to dance in blue, yellow, red, black and white, now I touch all shades of colour. I am enormously grateful that Scapino gives me all the space for this, that motherhood may be part of who I am as a dancer."
Intuition and awareness
Jozefien is very attached to how we humans treat the earth. "I want something beautiful to remain for our children. Intuition, staying close to yourself, not taking anything 'for granted' and being aware of everything you do and leave behind and why, that's what she passes on to her children. "And all that applies equally to who I want to be as a dancer."
Photography: Khalid Amakran | Interview: Astrid van Leeuwen
This season featuring in
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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.
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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. -
Origin 2024
For Origin, Ed Wubbe brings two extraordinary, international choreographers to The Netherlands: Xingxing Gong and Lior Tavori. -
Two Tales
Young emerging dance makers tell poignant stories with solid roots in the lore and customs of their native land. -
Casablanca
Casablanca is a visual performance about passion, freedom and desire for a better world. -
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. -
The Square2
Four young makers meet eachother in The Square2, a new full-length production of Scapino Ballet Rotterdam. -
Duplicate of Casablanca
Casablanca is a visual performance about passion, freedom and desire for a better world. -
Music in Motion
The Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and Scapino Ballet Rotterdam have joined forces for a new video project: Music in motion. -
Pearl
World class dance, stunning costumes and mesmerising music by composers like Vivaldi. -
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. -
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. -
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. -
Pablo
Pablo is an exciting spectacle with dance, theater and orchestra inspired by the lifetime of Spanish artist Pablo Picasso. -
TING!
Dance, music and circus come together on and above a rotating arena to create an enchanting spectacle. -
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. -
TWOOLS 16
Six world premiers from choreographers like Marcos Morau, Itamar Serussi en Ed Wubbe. Met live muziek van Michiel Borstlap and Katharina Gross. -
Pearl
World class dance, stunning costumes and mesmerising music by composers like Vivaldi. -
The Great Bean
Circus, illusionism, variety and dance: the The Great Bean takes place in the atmosphere of the roaring twenties, the emergence of jazz, Hollywood and vaudeville on Broadway with new dance styles like charleston and tap dance.