Show

Rara Avis

About the performance

Introdans choreographers Adriaan Luteijn and Chantal de Vries are once again creating a unique encounter specially for this End of Season Gala: Rara Avis. This time several Introdans dancers and the well-known drag queens of House of Holographic Hoes, led by the flamboyant Ma’MaQueen (an alias of Venus Bijleveld), will share the stage in a new, spectacular choreography. Rara Avis – Latin for rare bird – is part of the series The Encounter. A concept that choreographer and artistic initiator interaction and inclusion Adriaan Luteijn has developed over the past twenty years with performers who come from a wide variety of physical, social, cultural and intellectual worlds. For instance the Dutch Olympic Volleyball team, hiphop-waacking and voguing dancers, older people, dancers with different physical and/or intellectual abilities, LGBTIQA+ communities, or even whole families, all of whom he places alongside professional dancers (Introdancers), and always with remarkable results.

Read the reviews of End of Season of which Rara Avis was part of: Theaterkrant, Theaterparadijs and de Volkskrant.

Rara Avis has been made possible by VSBfonds.

Luteijn developed the artistic concept for Rara Avis and approached Venus Bijleveld – after seeing the impressive 2doc documentary Mama by Esmée van Loon – who immediately responded enthusiastically to this idea. The drag queens who shine on stage with Ma’MaQueen and the Introdansers are: Xtra Xceptit, Roseè-Sheneè Plastique, REUS and Licka Lolly. Introdancers: Alberto Villanueva Rodríguez, Vega Diesveld, Eskil Dorrepaal, Fintan O’Hara, Floris Puts.

Adriaan Luteijn created the choreography together with Introdans choreographer Chantal de Vries. They previously worked together in adventurous Introdans projects with colorful casts, such as Pink Panther Party, Red Bow Club and HubClub. Luteijn enjoys ‘serendipities’, special opportunities that come his way and that also inspire people with whom he creates. With this Introdans has been contributing to a more inclusive view of dance for many years.

Read the interview with Adriaan Luteijn, Chantal de Vries and Venus Bijleveld that they gave to Winq magazine. Listen to the podcast with an interview with the makers by Dide Vonk.

Rara Avis can be seen during the End of Season Gala 2024 in Doetinchem, Utrecht, Hengelo and Apeldoorn. The performance will also play in Vondelpark Open Air Theater, Studio 26 in Arnhem (try-outs) and twice at Zwarte Cross!