12 juli 2024

HAYDEN IDRUS (26) DANCER AT INTRODANS ARNHEM: “I FEEL BLESSED THAT I CAN DO WHAT I LOVE MOST”

While his colleagues took to the stages in the Netherlands and even flew to New York with the entire dance company to perform, the Australian Hayden Idrus, a talented dancer with Introdans, is at home in Arnhem. In January this year he felt ‘something snap’ in his knee during a rehearsal. What followed was an operation in March and then a careful but relatively fast recovery. He hopes to recover in time to make his return in the performance HEROES in September.

A tough time for the sympathetic dancer who was only 17 years old when he left friends and family to leave Perth, Australia, for the Netherlands to make his dream come true; become a professional dancer with a major dance company. He came to Introdans in Arnhem in 2015 via the National Ballet Academy in Amsterdam. A dream that came true.

What was it like to leave your country at such a young age and live thousands of miles away to try to build a dancing career there?

“I was young, yes, when I came to Amsterdam with my dance teacher to audition for the National Ballet Academy, but I also know people who came to the Academy at the age of 12, so compared to that, 17 isn’t too bad. My brother went into the army when he was 18, so at my house they were used to the children leaving the house early. Fortunately, my parents were completely supportive of me and still do. And I still don’t regret that choice.”

You are currently in a rehabilitation process after major knee surgery. What went through your mind when you realized that something was really wrong with your knee?

“I never had the fear that things wouldn’t turn out well. I know that these types of injuries are common among dancers and other top athletes. I’ve always seen those people come back so I wasn’t too worried about that. What is difficult is the feeling that I am not really back yet, even though I am rehearsing again.

It’s nice to be back in the dance studio and see everyone again. It took a while, but I now feel like I am part of the creative process again. Also thanks to choreographer Regina van Berkel who is working with me on the choreography for HEROES. She sees it as a challenge to be able to create something while taking my physical situation into account. It will be a more theatrical role.”

The new performance you can see in is called HEROES, an evening that revolves around the theme of heroes. Do you see yourself as a hero? Because you have worked very hard to get to the point where you are now. You even moved all the way from Australia to the Netherlands for it.

“Oh no, not at all. I actually feel blessed to be able to do what I love most. I even find that a bit selfish in a way and not heroic at all.

Of course, it sometimes makes me sad to think that I could have been in New York. Or when I attend rehearsals and see my colleagues and my own partner (fellow dancer at Introdans Elisa Rudolf) dancing there. Then I can’t wait to come back again. I was even a bit surprised that I didn’t become depressed or lose courage for a moment, but it is the first time I have had such an injury. You know it’s a risk that comes with it. But I can’t wait to really get back.

When you start your dance career, everything is very technical. You try to reach the highest possible technical level. And once you’ve achieved that and the technique comes more or less naturally, you can really get lost in the dance. I can’t wait to achieve that feeling again!”

HEROES by Introdans contains works by Regina van Berkel, Lightfoot & León, Inbal Pinto and Adriaan Luteijn. HEROES will premiere on September 20, 2024 at Amphion in Doetinchem and can be seen on November 28 and 29 at Musis in Arnhem. 

Read the article on Uit in Arnhem