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.
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.
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.
Partners
Dutch partners
Alevitisch Centrum, Rotterdam
Alfa College, Groningen
Amsterdamse Hogeschool voor de Kunsten
Belcampo College, Groningen
Cadans Festival, Den Haag
Cinedans Festival, Amsterdam
CINOP, Den Bosch
Codarts, Rotterdam
Compagnie Dakar Amsterdam
Doedans Festival, Utrecht
Festival Mundial, Tilburg
Festival Zwart, Zwolle
Fons Vitae Lyceum, Amsterdam
Global Art company, Kloosterburen
Grand Theater Groningen
Growing up in Public, Utrecht
IVKO, Amsterdam
JeugdteJAterschool, Amsterdam
Johan de Witt College, Den Haag
Korzo Theater, Den Haag
Leon van Gelder Middenschool, Groningen
Limburg Festival, Maastricht
MBO Albeda, Rotterdam
MBO Dans, Haarlem
Muziekschool, Venlo
De Noorderlingen, Groningen
Nova College, Amsterdam
Oerol Festival, Terschelling
OSG Nieuw Zuid, Rotterdam
Oxfam Novib, Den Haag
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
Rijksuniversiteit Groningen
Queensland University, Australië
Rutgersstichting, Utrecht
Sempe Women Centre, Amsterdam
SKVR, Rotterdam
Stichting Entre Nous, Amsterdam
Universiteit van Utrecht
University of the Arts, Utrecht Utrecht
Valuas College, Venlo
Vooropleiding Dans Venlo
Vrede van Utrecht, Utrecht
De Werkplaats, Bilthoven
Willem Lodewijk Gymnasium, Groningen
Southern partners
Al Balad Theatre - Jordanië
Arab Teachers Training Centre - Jordanië
Association Walô - Benin
ABMS - Benin
ABPF - Benin
Caucasus Foundation - Georgië
Centre Culturel Le Chateau Senegal
Centre for the Arts - Namibië
Compagnie Pas à Pas, Mali
CNEart - Cuba
Conservatoire CAMM-BFK - Mali
Duo/solo Danse Festival, Senegal
Dürres Dance Meeting – Albanië
Escuela Nacional de Danza Contemporanea y Folklórica - Cuba
El Funoun Dance Troupe - Palestijnse Gebieden
Fadjr Festival – Iran
Irivuga Art Company, Burundi
Imedi Folklore School - Georgië
Institut Francais Benin
Institut Francais Burundi
Jimbere, Burundi
Jomba Contemporary Dance Festival – Zuid Afrika
Jiriladon – Mali
National Theatre of Namibia - Namibië
Poor Theatre – Zuid Afrika
Phenduka Dance Company - Zuid Afrika
Ramad Dance – Syrië
SKENA-UP festival Kosova
Troupe MPANGI – DRCongo
Ubumuntu Arts Festival - Rwanda
Sponsors
Air France/KLM Cargo
Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst
Bank Windhoek
Boskalis
Brabant Water
Centre of the Creative Arts, Durban
Cobra Museum
Cultuurparticipatie Fonds
Dutch National Ballet
Einstein Design
Fonds voor de Podiumkunsten
Europe Culture 2000
European Cultural Foundation
Fonds voor de Scheppende Toonkunsten
Gravin van Bylandt Stichting
Helvetas - Mali
Hivos Wereldburgerfonds
Huis voor de Kunsten Limburg
Institute Francais Bénin
Institute Francais Burundi
Martinair
Mediafonds
Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken
National Theatre of Namibia
NCDO
Nuffic Orange Knowledge Programme
Nederlandse Ambassade in Benin
Nederlandse Ambassade in Burundi
Nederlandse Ambassade in Burkina Faso
Nederlandse Ambassade in Cuba
Nederlandse Ambassade in Jordanië
Nederlandse Ambassade in Mali
Nederlandse Ambassade in Zuid Afrika
Nederlandse Ambassade in Syria
Nederlands Danstheater
Fonds voor de Podiumkunsten
Oxfam Novib
Prins Bernhard Cultuur Fonds
Royal Jordanian Airlines
SDV Netherlands
SNSreaalfonds
Stichting Doen
Stichting Dioraphte
University of the Arts ArtEZ
Valuas College, Venlo
VSB Fonds