Mariëlle Veerman
Team Opera or Team Ballet?
“Team Ballet. As a child, dancing was truly what made me happy: waltzing in the living room with my father, and I also spent a year at the Lucia Marthas Dance Academy in Amsterdam – all the way from Deventer. For me, dance is a way to connect more deeply with your body, becoming one with yourself through music, detached from everything around you. There’s something magical about how ballet dancers use their bodies as instruments to translate emotions – from joy and sorrow to love and desire – without saying a single word. I admire the control and precision of the dancers, where every muscle works together to make their movements appear smooth and effortless.”
Which upcoming tickets for Dutch National Opera & Ballet would you go to any lengths to get?
“Swan Lake. I’ve never seen this piece, and I really need to experience this classic at least once. So many other works have been inspired by it. And okay, I’d love to see Forsyte’s Blake Works I again – the combination of this piece with James Blake’s music gives me chills every time.”
Who would you like to take with you to Dutch National Opera & Ballet again?
“My friends who are new to ballet and opera. For me, Dutch National Opera & Ballet is truly a safe, magical haven where you can escape the hustle and bustle of the city for a while. I love taking my friends along via My Muse & Me, helping them step over the threshold that opera or ballet can sometimes present for young people.”
Classic opera reimagined, or an innovative, new production?
“Classical in a modern guise. I find it really interesting to discover the story behind the productions. Often, old pieces are a part of history, with a healthy dose of modern interpretation by new artists. We shouldn’t forget these special stories from history, but instead, we should refresh them and add something beautiful.”
If you could have one costume from a Dutch National Opera & Ballet production that was exactly your size, which would you choose?
“I can’t choose, because with Don Quixote, I’m always amazed when the theatre curtain opens and the bold costumes are revealed. Similarly, I’m in awe of a piece like Classical Symphony by Ted Brandsen, where the minimalist costumes bring the essence of classical dance to life in a pure way, highlighting the dancers’ elegant movements and technique. I’d love to have both hanging in my wardrobe!”