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.

Bij One Night’s Dance, het jaarlijkse talentontwikkelingstraject voor beginnende dansmakers, begeleiden Lloydscompany en Dansateliers altijd vier makers bij hun onderzoek en maakproces. Ook leren ze in gezamenlijke feedbacksessies van elkaar over hun choreografie, dramaturgie, muziek, creatief produceren en communicatie.

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 developed a movement language that combines physical precision with emotional depth after studying at Fontys School of the Arts (Contemporary Urban). She combines her movements with text, music, or scenography. She invites the audience to feel, question, and transform. She danced with companies including the Nuremberg Ballet (DE), Wayne McGregor (La Biennale Danza Venezia, IT), and IID Company (NL). She also creates choreographies such as LIMP (Amsterdam Fringe Festival 2024), The Great Forgetting (Hannover Ballet 2024), Unveiling Echoes (Dutch Dance Days 2025), and Huidschrift (Schrittmacher Festival 2025).

Oumar Jalloh started breakdancing at a young age. This is 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