First encounter with the choreographers of Good [old] Times

On Saturday, June 14 and Sunday, June 29, dozens of dancers had the opportunity to meet the choreographers of the latest Good [old] Times production for the Holland Dance Festival 2026. Because let’s face it: auditioning for a production can be nerve-wracking. And who exactly are you auditioning for? To help answer that question, we organized four introductory workshops in June.

After several successful editions, the Good [old] Times production returns to the stage this anniversary year as part of the Holland Dance Festival’s 20th anniversary. For this sixth edition, not one but two choreographers have been invited to create new work: Kiran Bonnema and Laisvie Ochoa.

To give the project a strong and inspiring start, four intensive workshops were held in June. These days were dedicated to connection — between choreographers and dancers, between body and mind, between individual expression and collective movement. The dancers had the chance to experience the vision and working methods of the choreographers. And conversely, the workshops gave the choreographers space to get to know the dancers, discover their qualities, and lay the foundation for a shared creative process.

Saturday, June 14 | Kiran Bonnema

Kiran Bonnema opened the workshop series by letting go of traditional rules around counting and rhythm. Dancers were invited to explore a movement phrase free from fixed timing — allowing sensation and expression to take the lead. This approach required trust, alertness, and the ability to feel and follow each other without relying on set structures.

As the session progressed, dancers were encouraged to make the phrase their own: through timing, direction, and personal nuance that transformed the original into something unique. Working in small groups, spontaneous choreographies began to take shape — vivid proof of how collaboration and individual creativity can shine together. While the first moments were tentative, the movement soon began to flow naturally, leading to surprising and powerful exchanges.

Sunday, June 29 | Laisvie Ochoa

Laisvie Ochoa’s first workshop was filled with familiar faces — dancers who had taken part in earlier Good [old] Times productions. From the moment they entered the Korzo foyer, the atmosphere was one of joyful recognition and renewed connection: a warm reunion filled with laughter, memories, and eager anticipation.

Laisvie guided the group through a rich blend of structured improvisation and imaginative assignments. She encouraged the dancers to move using imagery and metaphor: deeply rooted trees drawing strength from the earth, slow-moving trunks, and planets endlessly circling the sun.

These metaphors went beyond movement exercises — they were invitations to explore personal limits, to engage with the space around them, and to connect with one another. The exploration of one’s own movement potential became a journey toward connection, resonance, and shared presence.

From Introduction to Audition

These inspiring workshops marked the official start of the Good [old] Times production for the Holland Dance Festival 2026. Auditions will take place on Saturday, September 13 and Sunday, September 14. Thanks to these early encounters, both dancers and choreographers now have a clearer sense of what to expect.

Want to know more about the auditions?
Good [old] Times | Auditions with Kiran Bonnema & Laisvie Ochoa