My fascination with dance dramaturgy lies in the combination of analysis and creativity.
- Analysis of the concept of the piece: What is it, what could it be or become? How to translate it to the stage? And analysis of the material that is developing in the making process; then I’m there to give back what I see: What is being communicated and how, why is it, and then the next step is: how to strengthen and clarify it.
- Creativity lies in challenging and inspiring the choreographer.

I am a dance dramaturge with a psychological background. Making connections between psychology and dance dramaturgy is a challenge on different levels: for example in the theme of a performance or in establishing a provocative and clear communication with the audience. Always with the purpose to broaden, to deepen and to clarify the content.

That’s why for me it is important that there is a will to communicate and that the dance dramaturge is able to step inside the creative process to work together.

I see the dance dramaturge and choreographer as two equal sparring partners in the making process. You challenge each other and you grow together. Nonetheless you both are working on a different level and you both have different roles in this process.

At this moment my focus in dance dramaturgy is to research the concept phase: studying theories and making the first step in translating it to the making process, always searching for a bridge between theory and practice.

Ghislaine van Schijndel