Jamy Schinkelshoek

Born: 1988, Voorburg (Netherlands)
Education: Royal Conservatoire, The Hague
Experience: Compagnie Europa Danse, Cannes; Introdans (since August 2007)
Accolades: Dancers’ Fund ’79 Scholarship (2005); Dancers’ Fund ’79 Incentive Prize (2008)

“For me, dance is the perfect mix of beauty and raw energy. The elegance and the purity of dance and music in combination with pushing yourself to the limits – for me that forms the ultimate reward, challenge and personal quest.”

Rescue mission at Introdans

“I think I’d say that nature gave me the gift of dancing.” Jamy was eight when, together with her identical twin sister, she took a trial ballet lesson. Her sister didn’t like it, but for Jamy it was love at first sight. After just a year she auditioned at the Royal Conservatoire. “When they asked me to show them a cambré I had to ask what that was. Right, bending backwards. Luckily I could do that.” Jamy was accepted and she loved the dance and the discipline. After attending the Conservatoire, classically trained Jamy moved to Cannes to dance with the Compagnie Europe Danse. It was there she discovered that the modern repertoire suited her well. One evening she got a call from Roel Voorintholt (artistic director of Introdans, ed.): he needed a stand-in the very next day. “I knew the piece but I was used to different dancers around me, a different partner. I literally got to know these people on the stage.” Not long after carrying out her rescue mission she was offered a contract at Introdans.

Now Jamy has been dancing at Introdans ever since 2007. “Even after all these years I still discover challenges and there’s always something to learn. That’s thanks to the repertoire: we dance such a diverse range of choreographies at Introdans that you automatically become an all-round dancer. And that suits my personality – I want to be able to do as much as possible. As I grow older, I’m willing to reveal more of myself and I understand deeper layers in a role or character.” So it’s no surprise that Jamy can really express herself in the work of Jiři Kylían. “I’m absolutely hooked on the technical and classical challenges, combined with the emotion and the wonderful music.” On the other hand, she can for instance also totally let herself go in the work of Inbal Pinto. Her work requires you to show another side of yourself, you don’t play a role, you are the role. When she thinks back over the many special experiences during her Introdans career, a few really stand out. Such as the appearance at the Mariinski Theatre in Saint Petersburg. Even as a little girl she knew that only the real stars dance there. She also enjoys the one-on-one collaborations with many choreographers. “It’s so unique to be able to work personally with people like Mats Ek, Jiři Kylían or Hans van Manen.”

Teamplayer

Jamy is a strong and grounded personality. She likes to push herself to the limit, and the profession requires you to show your character. She forms a stable factor in the group during rehearsals; she’s able to create a sense of calm in the studio, but always with humour, optimism and a pinch of self-mockery. She likes to take the lead but at the same time she’s a real team player. “I’m the dancers’ representative within Introdans, and also outside the company in the National Dancers’ Council. Moreover, for a long time I was the chair of the works council and I sit on the board of a theatre group. I like engaging in discussion and I’m not afraid to state my opinion. I like to ensure that everything in my surroundings runs smoothly.”

As the oldest of five sisters Jamy always had younger children around her – she naturally has a caring aspect in her personality. And so dancing in family shows is also a good match for her. “You can always set something free in children. I think it’s important to teach them something and to inspire them.” Besides this she also regularly gives dance lessons in her spare time. As a board member of Kazou, a theatre workshop for people with autism, she’s able to gain experience with business management in the cultural sector. “That’s where I see my future, because I certainly want to continue working in this sector.” But for the time being Jamy wants to keep dancing.

Love backstage

In 2019 she suffered a serious injury: she broke her foot on stage during a performance. The rest of the season she trained hard to regain her previous level. While some might have lost heart, Jamy viewed this period above all as an opportunity. “I was able to focus on other things for which I’d never had time before. It was very rewarding.” Jamy, who grew up in urban surroundings, has now been living in a farming village in the rural Achterhoek region for several years. “I think it’s wonderful to have a little more distance from my work and to live amidst beautiful nature.” She lives there with the love of her life, a former Introdans technician who she got to know backstage. “We’d already been working together for four years, but it really clicked during a tour in China. Since then we’ve been very close and in 2020 we got married.”

“Dancer Jamy Schinkelshoek displays wonderful, subtle expressions, and the lines she creates with her arms are breathtakingly beautiful.”

Leeuwarder Courant over Jamy in Trompe L’Oeil van Jiří Kylián