DansBrabant

Nienke Rooijakkers has a background as a theater maker and dramaturg. After studying at the theater school of the Amsterdamse Hogeschool voor de Kunsten, she followed DasArts, the master's program of the same college. After 15 years working as a maker, Nienke focused more and more on dramaturgy, coaching and talent development. From 2008 she was involved as dramaturge and education manager at Cinedans, international platform for dance film, and developed Cinedans LAB, Cinedans' education and talent development division. She designed teaching programs, workshops and research tracks for students and professionals, most of which she also managed. In recent years she got to know the Dutch dance schools - and their students - up close. Nienke was also coordinator of the Performance Technology Lab, a nomadic workshop and research place for performing artists who want to involve technology in their creative practice. As a dramaturge, Nienke worked with a variety of dance makers, including several choreographers affiliated with DansBrabant. Since November 2022, Nienke has been artistic director at DansBrabant.

Wim van Stam studied psychology at Tilburg University and philosophy and theatre studies at Utrecht University. He worked as a marketeer at the theatre in the latter city. At the start of the 21st century he became the managing director of Hans Hof Ensemble, one of the most original and innovative modern dance companies in The Netherlands, a collective company of three choreographers/dancers/designers performing all over Europe. After that he was the managing director of Theater De Regentes in The Hague, a special venue for (world) music, theatre and modern dance, which used to be the oldest swimming pool in Europe. In 2013, soon after DansBrabant was founded, Wim became the managing director there, bringing the man back South.