Diversity & Inclusion peer group meeting

Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT) recently hosted a Diversity & Inclusion peer group meeting, led by NDT’s direction and the impetus of NDT Policy Advisor, Prince Credell, and NDT supervisory board members Anthony Heidweiller (lecturer at the Amsterdam School of Theater and Dance) and Nancy Zomer. To make this event even more memorable, it was organised onsite at the Museon-Omniversum and included a visit to the exhibition, Children of the Independence 1975 – 50 years Srefidensi.

In this article, Prince Credell shares his reflection on that meeting and the importance of investing in the relationships between directors, marketeers, and policy advisors, involved in the development of DE&I within organisations.

“During the autumn of 2025, at the start of NDT’s season, I had the pleasure of reconnecting with a former colleague, Irene van Zeeland, who has worked for the Holland Dance Festival for several years, organising, facilitating and advocating for dance and disability.

Nearly four years ago, she and I first connected at an early edition of the DanceAble symposium. This symposium was designed not only to raise awareness of how dance exists outside of ‘able-bodied’ environments, but also to centre dance makers from disabled communities.”

“As I had the opportunity to meet the invitees one-on-one beforehand to describe the aims and intended outcomes, I primarily hoped that this first gathering would allow us to get to know one another, situate ourselves, and feel inspired as a group.

Organising this first peer group meeting was a step outside of my comfort zone. It was particularly valuable to connect with others working in similar roles across their respective organisations, ahead of Amare’s fifth anniversary programming scheduled for 20 November 2026.”

“Most of my previous contact with professionals working in Diversity & Inclusion for dance companies has taken place outside the Netherlands. For that reason, it was especially meaningful to meet colleagues from other artistic institutions within this context.

During the meeting, we discussed a range of topics, including accessibility at Amare, and how accessibility is experienced by musicians, dancers and their audiences. We also spoke about the need for an authentic representation of the diversity that defines Dutch culture. A conversation I found both important and refreshing.”

“November 25, 2025, marked 50 years of Suriname’s independence (Srefidensi), a country where diverse cultures and communities have lived together and influenced one another for centuries. It is no surprise that the exhibit and its content served as a suitable common ground for initiating our peer group connection in Amare. Furthermore, the acknowledgment of the deep connections between the Netherlands and the former Dutch colony was impactful for me to experience together with expats, like myself, and Dutch individuals during this visit.”

“The exhibition, Children of the Independence 1975 – 50 years Srefidensi, which runs until September 6, 2026, highlights the various communities that form the fabric of Surinamese society, from Afro-Surinamese and Indian Surinamese, to Javanese, Chinese, and the Indigenous communities, and the specific experiences of each respective community during independence 50 years ago. How did these different communities celebrate independence in their unique cultural way? The exhibit traced public performances, parades, and the celebrations that occurred during Srevidensi in 1975.”

Children of the Independence of 1975 – 50 years Srefidensi

“Perhaps the most striking aspect of the exhibit highlighted the drawings of students from 1975, who were instructed to illustrate how they imagined an independent Suriname 50 years in the future. The exhibit tracked down the same students to interview them to understand their impression of the current state of both countries and their political relationship today. Some individuals remained in Suriname, while others preferred to migrate to the Netherlands to begin anew. The personal stories and universal themes of capture, freedom, migration, heritage, community, struggle and solidarity were ever-present in the exhibit.”

“One key takeaway from both the exhibit and the meeting was that, by operating and functioning within our own communities in Amare, we can also deepen our connections on a human level within and across them. We have the opportunity to embrace diversity amid globalisation by coexisting with others in the same spaces and localities as we evolve together. With this new series and peer group, along with our aims to exchange each quarter on organisational outlooks and action plans, we also hope to have special guests join our discussions. Stay tuned!”