The Henny Jurriëns Studio (HJS) was established in 1995 as a non-profit foundation (‘stichting’ in Dutch) in order to provide open training for professional-level dancers, and has since then developed into one of the most important professional level open dance training centers in Europe. The namesake of the foundation, the late Henny Jurriëns, was one of The Netherlands best known and loved dancers, noted for his kind and generous character.
The Foundation’s main activities take place in the Chassé Dance Studios in Amsterdam in a beautifully refurbished former church. The Chassé complex has 8 studios, a café and a hotel. HJS is open the whole year through and offers training, workshops, and masterclasses by highly qualified teachers in a wide variety of styles and areas within and related to the ballet and contemporary dance genres.
HJS is an open training center, not a school or an academy, and plays a central role in the freelance professional dance community in Amsterdam. HJS provides a regular program of classes which stimulates, challenges and maintains the technical level of dancers.
HJS strives strive to create an open, diverse and safe climate for our dancers, teachers, staff and board, where everyone feels respected, embraced and celebrated for their differences. We work on building a community that values everyone for their contribution, regardless of race, colour, gender, age, ethnicity, socio-economic or cultural background, physical disabilities, religion or sexual orientation. If you have special needs, please don’t hesitate in informing us.
All of our classes and workshops have English as the main language and are open to dancers with a professional level and training.
The studio serves also as a networking and information center and is meeting place for independent dance artists including dancers, teachers, choreographers and producers. Auditions are regularly held, and choreographers looking for dancers regularly teach or rehearse in the studios or come by to see who is in class. An information board is present with the latest auditions, performances, workshops, housing and other notices. Free Wifi is available.
HJS is a partner of the Julidans Festival, and collaborates with most of the major dance companies and dance academies in the Netherlands.
In 2021, the jury of Dansersfonds’79 rewarded HJS founder & former director Gary Feingold the Special prize 2020 for his valuable contributions to the status of Dutch dance art.
The Henny Jurriëns Studio is grateful for the financial support it receives from the Amsterdam Art Fund (Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst)
More information about the studio.
Henny Jurriëns & Judith James, rehearsing Jan Linkens-Momentum 1983
photo Jorge Fatauros
Dance opportunities in Amsterdam
Amsterdam is home to an extremely wide variety of dance organizations, ranging from a world-class ballet company to small experimental collectives, and everything in between. There are a number of mid-sized and smaller dance companies, and ad-hoc project groups work regularly in the city. There are theater and production houses which present and/or produce dance and movement theater performances. The Amsterdam Academy for Theater and Dance offers dance and theater programs on bachelor and masters levels.
In Amsterdam, talented dancers and choreographers can often find jobs and performance opportunities, or create their own. There are funds available for making or performing dance pieces.
See the BAU website for links to dance organizations and funding bodies in the city.
Diversity and Cultural Governance
HJS strives to operate according to the guidelines of the Code of Cultural Governance and Code of Cultural Diversity
Staff
- Artistic director: Evan Schwarz
evan(at)hjs.amsterdam - Business director: Neeltje Holland
neeltje(at)hjs.amsterdam - Marketing Manager Socials: Wouter Vertogen
vertogen(at)hjs.amsterdam - Administrator: Esther Boateng
- Receptionist: Angelina van Niele
receptiondesk(at)hjs.amsterdam - Teachers housing coordinator: Savina Marasi
