Project Dancing Words - Spoken Dance in Suriname
Project Dancing Words - Spoken Dance in Suriname
Introdans collaborates with the Ilonka Elmont Foundation, an organization that has been dedicated since 2007 to the development and education of sports, movement, arts, and culture in Suriname. Within the Special Heroes Suriname program, the foundation promotes cultural and sports participation for children, with and without disabilities, who have less obvious access to these activities. This is achieved through structured leisure activities, such as sports days and cultural events.
From February 17 to 21, Dancing Words – Spoken Dance brought dance and spoken word to children and young people with disabilities in Paramaribo. In collaboration with the Ilonka Elmont Foundation and the Bureau for Special Education, a space was created where expression and connection were central.
Creativity without limits
Dutch and Surinamese artists, including Adriaan Luteijn, Georgios Lazakis, and Koloku, worked together to inspire the participants with dance, spoken word, and rhythm.
The Ilonka Elmont Foundation has also established a successful training program. Through Train the Trainer, professionals and volunteers who work with children with disabilities are trained. During this course, participants learn how to respond to different target groups within special education and develop skills in didactics, evaluation, first aid, and leadership.
With this collaboration, Introdans and the Ilonka Elmont Foundation strengthen their shared mission: giving more children and young people the opportunity to discover the power of movement and expression. Because dance is for everyone.
Festive finale on February 19 & 21
After a week full of workshops, the participants presented their stories in a special performance.
Want to know more? Listen to our podcast:
🎧 Listen here to Episode 04 of the Introdans Podcast – Introdans at the Paramaripodcast >>
Dancing Words – Spoken Dance in the media
Pictures
Project Dancing Words - Spoken Dance in Suriname at the Jeugd Journaal February 20
Involved Cultural Professionals
From Introdans, Artistic Initiator for Interaction & Inclusion Adriaan Luteijn and Choreographer & Interaction Teacher Chantal de Vries are involved. They create the foundational choreography and lead the dance workshops.
From the Netherlands, rapper, poet, and spoken word artist Georgios Lazakis, along with breakdancer and filmmaker Divano Rommers, contribute to the project. Lazakis conducts spoken word workshops for the participants, while Rommers creates an artistic visual report of Dancing Words – Spoken Dance.
From Suriname, dance teacher Yche, musician Valerie Venetiaan, and spoken word artist Koluko participate. Yche and Koluko lead dance and spoken word workshops, with Venetiaan’s music adding power to the sessions.
Target Groups
- Surinamese students (ages 10-18) with intellectual and/or physical disabilities
They are introduced to dance and other art forms and are encouraged to develop their talents and creativity. - Dutch cultural professionals
Trained in inclusive working methods. - Surinamese cultural professionals
Trained in inclusive working methods. - Surinamese teachers and educators
Provided with practical tools to integrate culture into the classroom.
In addition to these direct target groups, we reach even more people indirectly, as Introdans and the Dutch cultural professionals apply their acquired knowledge more broadly:
- Dutch participants in Introdans’ educational and participatory projects, ranging from ages 4 to 99.
- Dutch teachers and educators who receive tools to embed culture in education.