Our house

USING THE INTRINSIC POWER OF DANCE AND THEATER TO EFFECT SOCIAL CHANGE.

Grand Cru Global aims to create mindset change with impressive dance performances and talent trajectories for dancers and young creators. In this way, we encourage social change towards a sustainable, equal and harmonious global society.

Organization / Background

Grand Cru Global is a continuation of Feri de Geus and Noortje Bijvoets’ Le Grand Cru Foundation. Le Grand Cru was founded in 1994 when Feri started a collaboration with the Grand Theater in Groningen as a dance maker in the Netherlands. With a cultural anthropology background and dance training, he and Noortje began working with partners from non-Western countries.

Noortje Bijvoets received her training at the Rotterdam Dance Academy. After several projects in Namibia, they developed many international co-creations with foreign partners through a Stipend International Cooperation from the Performing Arts Fund. In these intercultural performances, the focus was on visualizing local traditions in a setting of contemporary themes and forms. The performances were performed both in the country where the production was made and in Europe.

Driven by an inexhaustible curiosity about people and stories, and a deep belief in the transformational power of dance, the team has been engaged in creating sustainable development projects for dancers in collaboration with partners worldwide since 2006. It was the beginning of many cooperations with partners in Benin, Cuba, South Africa, Jordan, Syria, Georgia, Mali, Senegal, Burundi, Rwanda, DRCongo and Occupied Palestinian Territories.

In 2023, the board decided to bring the organization’s name more in line with its international character: Grand Cru Global.

1 / 10

Values & principles

EQUALITY

For us, everyone deserves the same opportunity. During the creative process, we facilitate an equal playing field for all participants. We believe in the power of collaboration, exchange and co-creation with a focus on 1 + 1 = 3.

PROFESSIONALISM

Without quality no progress. We are simultaneously respectful, loving and demanding in our approach. With intensive guidance, our programs lead to increased self-esteem and ownership.

SUSTAINABILITY

Dance strengthens life skills for each individual. Leadership, perseverance, discipline, cooperation and creativity are given equal attention in the development process with the goal of good citizenship, success in the job market and sustainable positive impact in society.

RECIPROCITY

The dialogue about art and society that we have during our exchange programs creates respect and engagement between cultures. Making and experiencing art generates a strong connection.

COURAGE

It requires courage from all participants to engage in a process of cultural exchange. For many of them it is not natural to be professionally involved in dance. Often there is no breakfast and there is moral pressure from family to quit. Women especially experience this pressure. We make every effort to create a safe situation in which participants can freely express and develop themselves.

CURIOSITY

We question people and encourage them to speak out because everyone has a story to tell, no matter where you come from or what situation you grew up in. Curiosity is our engine to search for humanity and meaning, to let people flourish in their strength and their beauty, creating confidence and self-esteem.

Our team

Grand Cru Global is a Dutch non-profit Civil Society Organization. The artistic direction is in the hands of Feri de Geus (dance trainer, choreographer and anthropologist) and Noortje Bijvoets (dance trainer, choreographer and head of the Bachelor of Dance Artist program, University of the Arts, ArtEZ).

Grand Cru Global works on a demand-driven, project-based and flexible basis. For each project, we put together a team of professionals that matches the social and artistic wishes of the partner. We can call on an extensive team of international specialists: choreographers, directors, dance didactics, lighting designers cultural managers and human rights and gender specialists.

We have trained and coached more than 300 talented young arts professionals since 2006, mainly in Africa.

1 / 12

Organizational Structure

Board: The board of Grand Cru Global consists of
Paul Feld, Marjanne Paardekooper, Lander van Ommen and Andy Wehkamp, The board focuses on strategic advice, acquisition and financial control. The board performs its duties unpaid.

Direction: Daily direction of Grand Cru Global is in the hands of Feri de Geus. The direction is responsible for day-to-day decision-making, coordinating and executing projects.

Trainers: Trainers are involved in the execution of a project. The composition of the team changes per project. GCG works with trainers in the fields of theater, directing, choreography, rap, contemporary European and African dance, lighting technology, cultural management, rule of law and human rights (gender, sexual rights, children’s rights).

Business Management: The financial management is in the hands of Bureau van Zijll-Langhout.