ABOUT

Biography

Laura Daelemans (BE, 1999) is a dancer, choreographer, and visual artist. She graduated in 2017 from de! Kunsthumaniora for Contemporary Dance in Antwerp, and in 2021 from the Bachelor of Dance at the ArtEZ University of the Arts in Arnhem (NL). From a young age, Laura was fond of drawing and won several drawing competitions, which later evolved into the further development of her visual work. 

 

In 2020, Laura choreographed for SALLY Dansgezelschap Maastricht (NL), I SOLISTI, and Theater aan de Rijn (NL). Her creation ‘Total Eclipse’ got selected for Moving Futures (NL). In 2021, Laura joined I SOLISTI MAKERSpace as one of the four makers. She also went in residency at Instável - Centro Coreográfico (PT) i.c.w. Margarida Constantino, supported by Teatro Municipal do Porto (PT).

 

In 2022, Laura created work for MOSA Ballet School, Seminar Hakibbutzim (IL), SALLY Dansgezelschap Maastricht, and Theater aan de Rijn. She also began developing her project, ‘The Beehive’ at I SOLISTI MAKERSpace, i.c.w. artist Frederik Daelemans (Tamino).

 

In 2023, Laura was invited to participate in ‘Talentlab,' a collaborative project for eight emerging artists by Toneelgroep Maastricht and VIA ZUID (NL). Additionally, she created a new piece at Theater aan de Rijn as part of VIER X VIER, a concept aimed at introducing four emerging dance makers. Her work, ‘Tales to Disturb’ (VIER X VIER) was performed 11 times across the Netherlands and has been selected for Moving Futures, Hoogte 80 (NL), and Stray Birds Dance Platform Taipei (TW).

 

In 2024 Laura started working on her new  creation ‘MANA,' i.c.w. I SOLISTI, Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ (NL), DE SINGEL, BUDA, and CC Merksem. In this project, Laura combines her visual and choreographic work for the first time. She was also invited to create a new piece, ‘Chariot,' for the ‘Annual Recital’ of the MOSA Ballet School, and has been asked to choreograph a new work for the BA Ways Training Program in 2025.

 

Laura has danced for Paula Niehoff, Liza Van Brakel, Toon Quanten, and in her own work. She has taught at institutions such as Codarts University for the Arts (NL), ArtEZ University of the Arts (NL), de! Kunsthumaniora for Contemporary Dance, MOSA Ballet School (BE), Quand on Danse, and SALLY Dansgezelschap Maastricht (NL).

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As a visual artist, Laura frequently collaborates with other artists such as Tobias Wenting, Daniëlle Huyghe, Daniel Barkan and Toon Quanten. In addition, she creates her own work. Laura is currently exploring the possibility of merging her choreographic and visual work.

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Artistic vision and movement language​

To me, dance means celebrating your emotions. Expressing your emotions through dance feels like growing a flower from a seed. For me to create art means to listen to your emotions and to give them shape for others to see. I feel the essence of art is communication, which simultaneously is the essence of who we are as people.

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I believe to be able to create this form of pure communication is the most beautiful thing there is, and therefore I strive to reach this any time I create. In my aim to create an experience for both the performers and the audience, I always work from intense emotions and try to remain true to them, both in my performative as visual work. 

 

I am currently focussed on the research and further development of my movement language. I connect everything that affects and moves me and let go of techniques I related to in the past.

This results in my own artistic language which is based on enhancing the effect of images through which the body speaks. By delicately reshaping these images through especially focussing on details in the hands and face, I aim to clarify and intensify their expression.

 

The first out of the three major elements on which this movement language is constructed, is dynamic energy. This is generated from the rhythm in which we experience emotions or from the groove extracted from the respective music.

 

The second element is indirect gestural expression. This element is initiated from the urge to express literally, and subsequently manipulated through a visual abstract filter. I am a visual artist as well which inevitably adds a visual layer to my work. I am passionate about creating new shapes and mechanisms with the body as if it were with pen on paper.

 

By visually reshaping gestural movements, the literal meaning disappears and the motivation of the movement remains clear and prominent. This way I emphasise its emotional message rather than the symbolic connotation we have to the movement, which on a smaller scale resembles the core of my work. ​

 

The third and final element is grotesque facial expression. In 2020 I created an exercise that enables the attainment of my characteristic facial expressions when working with other dancers.

These grotesque facial expressions combined with my choreographic approach bring about an absurd landscape of quirky movements grooving in odd coordinations, driven by strong emotional intentions: my movement language. 

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Publications​​

I SOLISTI Reflections, I SOLISTI 2024/2025, I SOLISTI Reflections, Ede Stad, Jongin Arnhem, I SOLISTI Reflections, Dans Magazine, I SOLISTI Reflections, De Limburger, Sporza, De Limburger, I SOLISTI Reflections, Jongin Arnhem, Arnhem Direct, De Arnhemse Koerier, I SOLISTI Reflections, Discover ArtEZ