They have a background in modern dance, hip-hop, popping, electro, and more. Lloydscompany and the Danseateliers are guiding new makers Dorrit Griffioen, Oumar Jalloh, Bo Jacobs, and Anna Raiola through the creation of a new piece in seven weeks. These will premiere in Rotterdam on February 5th.

At One Night's Dance, the annual talent development program for emerging dance makers, Lloydscompany and Dansateliers always mentor four makers in their research and creative process. They also learn from each other about their choreography, dramaturgy, music, creative producing, and communication in joint feedback sessions.

THE MAKERS

For Dorrit Griffioen, dance is a language everyone speaks, a way to connect, share stories, and communicate beyond words. In her work, she seeks authenticity, connection, and the power of intuitive movement. During her studies in Paris, Dorrit was introduced to various dance styles and found her home in hip-hop. She is delving into hip-hop freestyle and battles and exploring how she can bring that raw energy into the theatre.

Bo Jacobs ontwikkelde een bewegingstaal die fysieke precisie combineert met emotionele diepgang na een opleiding aan Fontys School of the Arts (Contemporary Urban). Ze combineert haar bewegingen met tekst, muziek of scenografie. Ze nodigt het publiek uit om te voelen, te vragen en te transformeren. Ze danste bij o.a. Nürnberg Ballet (DE), Wayne McGregor (La Biennale Danza Venezia, IT) en IID Company (NL). Ook maakt ze choreografieën zoals LIMP (Amsterdam Fringe Festival 2024), The Great Forgetting (Hannover Ballett 2024), Unveiling Echoes (Nederlandse Dans Dagen 2025) en Huidschrift (Schrittmacher Festival 2025).

Oumar Jalloh started breakdancing at a young age. That's how he took his first steps as a professional artist in the Dutch hip-hop scene. He became acquainted with electro and contemporary dance and shifted his work more towards film and theatre. He further expands the art forms in his work by combining memes, fashion, and scenography into artistic and expressive scenes. For him to be authentic, freedom in creative expression is central. He goes beyond what some people consider normal or acceptable; he dares to show his strangeness.

Anna Raiola is a modern dancer born in the United States to Italian and Mexican parents. At the age of 18, she moved to Rotterdam to study at Codarts University of the Arts, where she graduated in 2021. All these cultures sparked her interest in themes such as connection and identity. She explores the interplay between softness and strength, based on everyday gestures. Anna's work is characterised by theatricality. She works for various choreographers and is now developing her own artistic voice.

Photos: Michelle Urbiztondo