Direction Le Grand Cru was founded in 1994 by Feri de Geus. For many years the foundation was the label of his many unique and successful dance productions in the Netherlands. Feri is a choreographer who also studied cultural anthropology. This inspiring combination resulted in the transformation of Le Grand Cru into an intercultural organization for training and productions in the new millennium. Together with Noortje Bijvoets he makes up the artistic direction of Le Grand Cru. Noortje Bijvoets has earned her reputation as a professional dancer in successful productions in the Netherlands and abroad and is a popular trainer worldwide. Within Le Grand Cru she also works as co-choreographer. Noortje also works as head of the Bachelor of Dance program, University of the Arts, ARTEZ. In 2020 Le Grand Cru won the NUFFIC IMPACT AWARD in competition with Dutch Colleges and Universities.

Inspiration and embedding Curiosity about other cultures and other stories was and is the engine to seek cooperation with partners in non-Western countries. Initially to broaden our artistic horizons and be inspired by rich traditions. Most countries in which we operate do not have the financial capacity nor the political will to support their own artists in their artistic development. As a result, the development prospects of the partners have taken a central role in the collaboration. Since 2000 Le Grand Cru has made a great number of international performances presented on many festivals. Currently, the focus is on train- the- trainer programmes to empower people and to exchange skills to create performances. We work with an extended team of professionals in the field of dance and theatre technique, didactics, human rights advocacy, management training and personal coaching. Le Grand Cru has an intensive international cooperation with Dutch and foreign NGOs, dance academies and colleges of higher education and universities. Partners and sponsors

 As a development organization we do not show the misery but the power of people and cultures.

Mission  LGC considers art as an autonomous medium with a strong narrative power and therefore also as a tool to question social problems. Becoming aware of human behavior in all its diversity is the aim of all our trainings and performances worldwide. We aim to use dance and theater to create awareness of human rights and to incite social change. To this end we design artistic and educational projects based on context-sensitive research into socio-cultural problems.

Goal We know from experience that art strengthens social skills because art is by itself constructive and communicative. We exchange social and self-awareness through body exercises and we encourage individual leadership through choices in creative processes. We create performances with our partners to communicate personal and social issues  in order to realize social impact for the individual and society as a whole. We ask our partners about their views on life, on their culture and how they can link this to a contemporary dance theater practice to communicate their own views on social issues.

Human rights We try to give shape in a modern way to the theories of educator Paulo Freire in his Pedagogy of the Oppressed: “Oppression is sustained by fatalism – the belief that one’s social situation is the result of predestination, fate, luck, the will of God, magic or myth. Self-doubt and feelings of inferiority accentuate this passivity.” To us a recognizable reality in post-colonial societies in which we operate. Since 2008 we have been using academic techniques related to arts education for capacity building with dance and theater companies and advocacy organizations.These techniques are applied to promote personal and social growth. Personal development comes from improvisational processes, creativity, technical training, discipline, analysis and evaluation. Physical and spatial tasks bring mental and social insights. This process of embodied cognition is an innovative way to achieve self-development and opinion formation. Over the past five years, Le Grand Cru and its partners have primarily created performances on issues related to human rights,reconciliation and specifically sexual rights. We work closely with local interests groups in this field.

Output Art generates life skills as it is intrinsically constructive and communicative. Over the last 15 years we have been working in Eastern Europe, The Middle East, the Carribean and sub- Saharan Africa. We work where people need training, where people are eager and/or anger and in need to express themselves in a creative, open and constructive way. And to share and exchange new ideas. The majority of our participants disseminate our legacy of intercultural learning to create a sustainable, egalitarian and harmonious global society.

Trainers For each training program we look for professionals in line with the objectives of the program. Over the years we have built a wide network of internationally active choreographers, directors, dance educationalists, lighting designers and cultural managers.  Our business is managed by Bureau Van Zijll Langhout. Board and trainers

ANBI We are a small flexible organization that works on a project basis. Donors are sought for each project. The assets of the foundation are used to optimize the functioning of the foundation in consultation with the board. The board carries out its tasks without remuneration. Le Grand Cru is liable to VAT and has an ANBI status registered under number RSIN803210085.
Do you appreciate the high social return we achieve with minimal resources? We welcome any donation: Stichting Le Grand Cru, IBAN: NL49INGB0000128051. Financial statements