Our dancers
The faces of De Dutch Don't Dance Division
Francesco Cusumano
Francesco was born in Sicily, Italy. He started dancing at the age of 3 and he continued his studies in Sicily until he was 15 years old. He moved to France to study at the École Supérieur de Danse Rosella Hightower where he graduated in 2023 and joined the De Dutch Don’t Dance Division the same year.
“In dance, my inspirational phrase is “All possibilities are accepted”. That’s why I choose DeDddd because we do a very diverse repertoire and this is so enriching for a dancer. Also, It is a place where you can grow and pursue your dreams.”
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Mabelle Westrik
Dancer of Dutch descent. Exercise has always been a must in her life. In 2015, she started her first professional preparatory course at ArtEZ (Venlo). After two years, she felt she needed more of a challenge and moved to The Hague to study at the Royal Conservatoire. In 2023, Mabelle moved to Paris and trained at Paris Marais Dance School for a year. After this, she ended up at DeDDDD.
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"I am so happy to be part of the DDDD, I get the space and freedom to further develop myself artistically and technically and all this in a safe and warm environment."
Jasey Harders
Jasey Harders was born in The Hague. He used to be unstoppable, so he started at the Royal Conservatoire in 2014 and attended secondary school there. 10 years later, in 2024, he graduated as an HBO bachelor of Dance. He then auditioned for DeDDDD and was accepted.
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"I can't wait to get started and make people happy through dance. DeDDDD feels like coming home because I used to participate in various productions as a small child."
Dulce Jordão
Dulce was born in Portugal. She graduated from the “Annarella’s Conservatory of Ballet and Dance” and for the past two years she danced in their Junior Company.
"I feel very motivated at DeDDDD. For me it’s very interesting and inspiring to work and be with very different people where we can learn from each other and develop as artists".
Mathilde Awad
Mathilde is a 19-year-old dancer from the French Riviera. She studied dance largely in Paris, Monaco and Pau, where she learned to express herself in different ways through art and movement. She loves to share her passion with a diverse audience and hopes to learn as much as possible in the process.
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"Being part of DeDDDD, as my first professional experience, is a unique chance to build the dancer and artist I want to become by working with devoted, passionate and inspiring people".
Lorenzo Topino
Lorenzo was born in Italy. He started his professional dance studies at Formazione Danza Terni.
He graduated from Palucca University of Dance Dresden in 2022 and joined the Saarländisches Staatstheater as an apprentice before coming to DeDDDD.
"I’m very grateful to be part of DeDDDD because they built a space that allows us to create and explore whoever we want be."
Edoardo Chirico
Edoardo was born in Rimini, Italy. At the age of three, he saw his first dance performance and immediately fell in love with the profession. At the age of eleven he started his dance training at H.O.P.E. for Dance. At the age of seventeen he auditioned for DeDDDD, making him our youngest dancer.
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"This is my first company. I am very happy to be part of this and I am convinced that I will learn every day and expand my knowledge of dance."
Samuele Maniglia
Was born in Lecce, Southern Italy. He went to 'Il Balletto del Sud' until he was twelve. He then moved to Cannes to study at the Pole Nationale Supérieure de Danse, Rosella Hightower. For the past two years he danced with "Cannes Jeune Ballet".
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"I feel very inspired at DeDDDD. It is very interesting to see how many different ways there are to approach art. It is a very diverse group and I can further develop both my artistic qualities and my technique".
Ella-Joy Boog
Ella-Joy was born in Amsterdam and has lived in Purmerend all her life. She started ballet at the age of four and went to havo/vwo for music and dance in Rotterdam at the age of sixteen.
After an extra year of pre-university education and an in-between year, I am now dancing with dedddd.
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"It's a girl's dream to be able to dance with this company. Ever since I was 14 years old, I have been participating in Christmas productions and summer courses.
I am grateful to be able to develop further and to enjoy the diverse repertoire and the pleasant people around me who share the same passion."
Romane Heurtefeu-Foussard
Romane is originally from New Caladonia and is 19 years old. She started her artistic journey at a very young age. Driven by passion and determination, she left for the south of France at the age of twelve to study at Pôle National Supérieur de Danse Rosella Hightower. She graduated in 2024.
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"DeDDDD gives me the opportunity to follow my passion further and grow as a dancer and artist in the meantime. My goal is to inspire young dancers to follow their dreams, no matter the distance."