THE HISTORY

call
and be called
drink
and be drunk
eat
and be eaten
dance
and everybody sings
sing
and everybody dances

A secret verse from a apocriptic evangelical, found and translated by Marguerite Yourcenar,
and translated into Dutch by Jenny Tuin.
2008

Anneke van der Merwe, Lana Panfilow, Linnet van der Wal, Petra van der Steeg, Jur Bouterse, Fleur van Hille, Mirthe Bron (upper row, from left to right)

Margriet Kuiper-De Rijk, Simone Heitinga, Gaëtane Bouchez, Fleur Hagemans (lower row, from left to right)

 

Tableau de la troupe - "We're Watching You"
Gaëtane Bouchez, Petra van der Steeg, Herman van Veen, Linnet van der Wal, Fleur van Hille, Lana Panfilow,
Margriet Kuiper-de Rijk, Jur Bouterse, Fleur Hagemans, Dieuwertje van Ravenswaaij, Mirthe Bron, Simone Heitinga

2008

Tableau de la troupe - "Mata Hari"
Anneke van der Merwe, Arjan Verhoef, Mitsou Doudeau, Mirthe Bron (upper row, from left to right)
Marije van der Griek, Dieuwertje van Ravenswaaij, Gaëtane Bouchez, Wendel Spier, Martine de Kok (lower row, from left to right)

2006

Tableau de la troupe
Hanna van der Meer, Silke Mehler, Carsten Lumière Sasse, Bart Sluis, Sasker Polman, Wendel Spier, Gaëtane Bouchez, Leontine Ganseman

2006

Lina Lindheimer - "Windekind"

2005
Yoko El Edrisi
 
Not only is her dancing talent diverse, but also her origin – partly Japanese, partly Moroccan, with her roots in Amsterdam. Dancing was quickly a part of her live and became her source of energy, inspiration and escape. Yoko specialised in dancing at the Musical Theatre and Musical Dance with Lucia Marthas, and also qualified in singing and acting.

Before she became involved with the Harlekijn Dance Theatre, she acted in the tapdance musical “42ND Street” and the musical “Aida” in the Circus Theatre in Scheveningen. In December 2003 she danced in the performance “Alfred Jodocus Kwak – Lachen verboten” (Alfred Jodocus Kwak – Forbidden to laugh), and with that she started a promising career with Harlekijn Holland. In “The First Lady”, which followed (with Lori Spee and Gaëtane Bouchez), she played the role of the “Chauffeur”.

Until July 2006 she played the role of Mata Mari. Up until now, this has been her biggest challenge for various reasons: because of the expressive choreography of Lilja Hermannsdottir; the direction of Herman van Veen as well as travelling to different countries and meeting and working with different people. She travelled to Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and South Africa, danced in the Roosconcert, Concert for the Mishigaz Foundation, Concert of ME 2004 and 2005 and also played in the show “C’est comme ca”. Currently she lives and works in Berlin where she plays the role of “Lisa” in the show “Mamma Mia!”

Yoko El Edrisi: "I hope that people will have the courage and opportunity to follow their heart, therefore I always say: Carpe diem.".
 

Tableau de la troupe

2004

The end of a four year campaign “Afspraak is afspraak -- kinderrechten zijn mensenrechten” (Agreed is agreed – children’s rights are human rights). Apart from his regular concerts, Herman also had a four year long tour with the show of Alfred Jodocus Kwak (for the occasion – Unicef Bootschafter (Unicef ambassador)). This show starred Lilja Hermannsdóttir and was in co-operation with the Harlekijn Danstheater and his permanent accompaniment. The purpose: to raise awareness for the rights of children. The tour took him through Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland and Austria (the Klangwolke, Linz, 96.000 visitors). It was organised by Harlekijn, the Herman van Veen Foundation/Studios and Unicef Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Austria. It was entirely sponsored by friends especially Marcel Boekhoorn and Edward Vermeer. The story “Verboden te lachen” (Forbidden to laugh) appeared in book form as well as on DVD at Signature/Bruna, “Lachen verboten – Ein Buch für Unicef” by Aufbau Verlag Berlin. The book, titled “Afspraak is afspraak” (Agreed is agreed) by Signature/Bruna also in German “Abgemacht ist abgemacht” was published by Aufbau Verlag Berlin. The campaign ended with a gala performance in the “Sonesta Koepel” in Amsterdam, presented by Joan Haanappel, with guest speaker Mies Bouwman and a memorable performance by Ali B.

2003
In October the first repetitions for “Mata Hari” started in Leeuwarden and Soest. “Mata Hari” was written and produced by Herman and choreographed by Lilja Hermannsdóttir. With Gaëtane Bouchez, Wendel Spier and Martine de Kok, among others, in the leading roles. The performance travelled to many theatres in the Netherlands, Belgium, South Africa and France. In Paris, both the media and the public, received it enthusiastically.
1994

Gaëtane Bouchez in "Etude F"

1990
Tableau de la troupe
 

Muriel Janssens

1980

Tableau de la troupe

1980

Together with Scapino dancer, Cees Brandt, Herman van Veen sets up the Harlekijn Danstheater (Harlekijn Dance Theatre). Harlekijn produces one of the first family shows “Onder Water” (Under water), in which Herman performed together with the Harlekijn Danstheater.

The Harlekijn Danstheater has performed many shows. Choreographers were, Cees Brandt, Muriel Janssens, Lilja Hermannsdóttir, Vicky Derks, Lina Lindheimer and Herman van Veen to name but a few. Many stories were portrayed through dancing: at schools, in Herman’s shows, on the television, in “Het Land van Ooit” and in the “Colombinehuis”. In 1997 a show was performed at the World Press Photo Gala and in 2008 the dance show represented a bomb scare during the opening ceremony of the 8th World Biomaterials Congress in the Rai, Amsterdam.

Since 2003 Gaëtane Bouchez is the artistic director.

1979

Marjolein Elsink

 

Ask her not
why she dances
like a bird
almost gliding
it happens automatically
when nobody shouts
leg must be higher
back must be straighter
Theo Olthuis

 

Karin Chen

 

Rehearsal "Onder Water" (Under water) - Scapino Studio's

1978
 

Because I can't fly

I dance.

Herman van Veen

1973

Harlekijn is considered to be the “warme bakker” (the fresh bakery) of the Dutch culture.

1968

Herman van Veen and Laurens van Rooyen established Harlekijn Holland B.V.

An extract from the Harlekijn Holland B.V. deed:

 

Name, location, purpose and duration.
Article 1.

1. The limited liability company, carries the name: Harlekijn Holland B.V.

2. The company is located at Westbroek, municipality Maartensdijk.

3. The company has as its purpose:

a. to produce presentations, shows and such like in theatres or areas equipped as theatres in order to entertain the public on artistic and recreational

    level, including recordings, radio, film and television.

b. the training, coaching and performance of artists in the artistic and recreation sector;

c. to make use of companies, institutes or shops especially horeca (hotels, restaurants and café’s), recreation and advertisement for the purpose of

    entertainment activities and/or goods; at our own expense as well as the expense of third parties, taken in the broadest sense of the word, also the

    setting up or taking over of and participation in the management of other companies with a similar purpose.

d. The duration of this company is unlimited.