PROJECT VERTROUWEN
A dance and choreography project for people who have been diagnosed with cancer at a young age (AYAs).
Are you an AYA? Then Project Vertrouwen might be for you. A special dance program where you can reconnect with your body in your own way and at your own pace. The project starts with a series of dance classes on Sunday mornings. Afterwards, you can work on a choreography together with dancers from Dansgroep Haarlem.
Dance can help you to feel, to let go, and to rebuild trust. No dance experience is required — you don’t have to be able to do anything or perform. You move in the way that feels right for you.
Together with others who understand what you are going through, a safe space is created where everything is allowed to be present. After the series of classes, you will be introduced in a special way to the dancers of Dansgroep Haarlem, who will perform their production Herberg Herberg for you and your family/friends. From September onward, there will be an opportunity to participate in a choreographic process together with these dancers.
What can you expect?
Dance and movement classes without performance pressure
Meeting and collaborating with dancers from Dansgroep Haarlem
A creative process leading to a shared choreography
A safe, supportive, and open atmosphere
For whom?
AYAs, adolescents and young adults with cancer, during or after the disease process.
We are starting this project for female participants only, with the intention of starting a men's group later.
Are you interested in this men's group? Let us know!
What and when exactly?
Classes on Sundays (to attend):
April 19, 10:00–12:00
May 17, 10:00–12:00
June 28, 10:00–12:00
September 6, 10:00–12:00
We serve a vegetarian lunch after every class.
Performance *Herberg* by Dansgroep Haarlem (to watch):
May 30, 16:00–17:30
Choreographic project September–December 2026 (to participate in and dance):
on Saturdays between 14:00–16:00
Location
Studio at Danshuis Haarlem
Klein Heiligland 84
2011 EJ Haarlem
The studios are on the 2nd floor. Elevator available.
Costs
Free of charge
Organization
Implementation: Stichting Danskunst in collaboration with Haya Maëla, Roby Roest, Emily Jenkins and Dansgroep Haarlem
Supported by F|Fort Foundation and Stichting Raaf
With financial support from the Municipality of Haarlem
Why participate?
To gradually regain trust in yourself, your body, and life. To take part in a creative process and make the unspoken visible and tangible — for yourself and for those around you.
More information, questions, or registration:
info@danskunsthaarlem.nl
You can register for the entire project or per individual class.
Recent projects
Danshelix’26 An inspirational and creative development project in which dance artist Haya Maëla enters into an intensive collaboration with emerging young choreographer Margarida Constantino. This collaboration will result in a triple bill, premiering on April 12, 2026, during the third edition of Dansdagen Haarlem at Theater De Schuur.
Herberg Nu by Dansgroep Haarlem; until October 2025.
Double Bill Heart with dance group The Next Move and Man||Co during the
Haarlem Dance Days on March 28, 2025 in De Schuur, Haarlem.
Diary 44 45 in reprise by Dansgroep Haarlem in de Koepel on May 4 and 5, 2025, Haarlem; May/June in museum Het Oranje Hotel in Scheveningen; June 2025 in Kamp Amersfoort.
Creative project week in July 2025, in which young people with a dance, music and/or
theatre background and their parents/family will spend one week creating a theatre dance piece that will be performed during the Haarlem event Queen between
the sliding doors.
Inspirational sessions (September-December 2025): In six workshops, teachers and (guest) choreographers will use a new and refreshing approach to modern dance
using technique and production assignments to provide incentives for repertoire development. At the end of this deepening trajectory, the participating dancers will give a short presentation.
Special projects
The Danskunst Haarlem Foundation offers young dance talent the opportunity to gain stage experience in special projects, such as:
Heart, a collaboration between the Dance Group The Next Move (young talent) and
Man||Co led by dance maker Susan Hoogbergen in De Schuur March 28, 2025
Buitenstaanders, a performance inspired by the story of ‘Philemon and Baucis’ by the Roman poet Ovid, in which 9 dancers from the Dance
Preparatory Course (14-16 years) of Danshuis Haarlem have wondered about
the state of their hospitality. (2023)
Top Year: Stichting Danskunst Haarlem supports a new intensive dance program, the Top Year, for young talented students who have the ambition to progress to a dance professional training program after secondary school.
Creative Project Week: Creative week in July, during which a very diverse group of dancers and actors create a theatre dance piece in Belgium in one week, which is performed both locally for local residents and during the Harvest Festival at the beginning of September at the Nieuweweg Neighborhood Farm in Haarlem
Dansgroep Haarlem
HerbergNu (2024-2025)
Wild & More (2024)
Wild (2024)
IBU (2022-2023)
Dagboek 44-45 (2021-2022)
Pushing (2020)
Lacrimosa (2018)
De rode schildpad (2018)
Ayah (2017)
Speechless Dialogue (2016)
De herberg (2015)
Melilla (2015)
Roadtrip (2014)
Wat los en vast zit (2014)
Opera Carmen (2014)
6 PK (2014)
Migration of soul (2014)
Vier duetten (2014)
Time is not (2013)
Tender hooks (2013)
Sarcre du printemps (2013)
Schaakspel (2012)
Artur van Avalon (2012)