Back to basics, that is the concept of choreographer Sharon Wesseling’s performance Grondslag. Searching for the origins of the subjects that inspire her, Sharon arrived at her Heerlen roots, the mining past of South Limburg and the urban dance styles she learned at a young age.

Everyone has moments in life that greatly influence your further development. For the dancers of 20Hertz, that was the moment they fell in love with the urban dance style. For South Limburg, the birth of the coal mines was crucial. Grondslag delves into the past and explores what shaped us into who we are. In addition to dancers, 20Hertz also adds a VV artist to the dance company. VV stands for Visual Vernacular and is an art form from the deaf community. It revolves around depicting objects or stories using gestures combined with strong facial expressions. By combining the visual concept of the miners with expressive elements from urban dance styles, the choreographer creates the basis for a piece that is also accessible to people with hearing disabilities.

The 20Hertz Foundation is a young and dynamic dance company founded in 2022. The team and dancers of 20Hertz are a mix of people of all hearing degrees (deaf, hard of hearing and hearing), but they have one thing in common: they are all show ponies who love being on stage. 20Hertz is determined to convey that dance is a universal language that knows no barriers.

Choreography Sharon Wesseling

Performers Anggun Musri, Boaz Blume,

Riva van Baardewijk, Saskia Neuen

Technical production Floris Mentink

Costume design Ella Siekman

Music Amsterdam Beats

Photo Floris Mentink

Grondslag is a co-production of 20Hertz, with support from Cultura Nova, Cultuurhuis Heerlen, Gemeente Heerlen, VIA ZUID and VSBfonds. Grondslag was (partly) created in the Dance Lab of SALLY Dansgezelschap Maastricht and VIA ZUID. VIA ZUID supports young performing artists on their way to professional professional practice. In and from Limburg. Together with partners such as Cultura Nova, talented makers are given the opportunity to surprise and enrich the world with their performances and projects.