Dance on in Infinity

Salomon Bausch established the Pina Bausch Foundation in 2009, shortly after the death of his mother, the world-renowned choreographer Pina Bausch. He manages her artistic legacy and grants licences for performances of her choreographies worldwide. In collaboration with former and current dancers from the Tanztheater Wuppertal, he safeguards the transfer of knowledge and performance traditions. His goal is for future generations to continue to experience Pina Bausch's work on stage.

Meryl Tankard is an Australian dancer and choreographer who was a member of Pina Bausch's Tanztheater Wuppertal from 1978 to 1984, where she created roles in iconic works such as Café Müller and Kontakthof. After returning to Australia, she founded her own company and was artistic director of Australian Dance Theatre (1993-1999), where she created award-winning works. She has worked for theatre, film, opera and major international companies, and directed the opening ceremony of the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, among other things. In 2019, she was appointed Officer of the Order of Australia for her visually compelling and emotionally charged work. 

Ted Brandsen has been artistic director of the Dutch National Ballet since 2003. He began his career as a dancer with the Dutch National Ballet, where he later also became a choreographer. Under his leadership, the company grew into a leading institution with a broad and innovative repertoire. Brandsen is known for his strong artistic vision and his ability to bring together tradition and innovation in the art of dance.

Beppie Blankert is a Dutch dancer and choreographer who played an important role in the development of modern dance in the Netherlands. She began her career in 1969 as a dancer but soon started choreographing, working with various companies such as the Noord Nederlandse Dansgroep, Mezzing and Dansproduktie. In 1987, she founded her own company, with which she created layered performances combining dance and specially composed live music. She has more than forty choreographies to her name, which have been shown at festivals and theatres at home and abroad.

Jordy Dik is a choreographer and community artist who explores the boundaries between dance and theatre. He is co-founder and artistic director of Compagnie Tiuri, an inclusive dance theatre company in which dancers with and without disabilities work together. With performances such as You And Me And All The Others, he won the BNG Bank Dance Prize 2023. His work is characterised by a raw, poetic style and a deep focus on connection and humanity.

Emio Greco has been collaborating with Pieter C. Scholten since 1995 in a joint quest for new forms of dance. He trained as a dancer in Cannes and danced with Jan Fabre and Saburo Teshigawara, among others. In 1996, Greco and Scholten founded the dance company ICK (Emio Greco | PC), with which they achieved international success. In addition to dance, their work also includes opera, music and film, and they have been awarded the VSCD “Zwaan” prize, among others.

Henk van der Meulen was director of the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague from 2008 to 2023. In the 1970s and 1980s, he was a composer for numerous performing arts productions and collaborated with choreographers, poets and theatre makers. Later, he was head of the Music and Dance department at the Dutch Public Broadcasting Service, where he provided a platform for innovative forms of music and dance. Under his leadership, the Royal Conservatoire developed into a school that stimulates artistic talent and is firmly anchored in an international network of artists.