Merel Heering (1986, The Netherlands) graduated from the master Theatre and Dance Studies (cum laude) at the University of Utrecht in 2010. After her graduation Merel worked for several dance institutions such as Nederlands Dans Theater, Dutch Dance Festival and ICKamsterdam. However, the necessity she felt for change in the Dutch dance field on the level of inclusion, working methods, multiplicity of voices and ethics, led her to start her own independent practice as a dance dramaturge.

‘It is my mission to (co-)create ethically just working cultures in the arts and develop modes of operation and creation that breathe congruence, humanity and integrity.’

Merel’s practice is rooted in supporting social change and bringing awareness to positioning, artistic responsibility and supporting people and organizations in aligning vision and actions. She facilitates conversations on the friction between personal and professional values and is committed to creating spaces for dialog and exchange between people with different worldviews. Her practice focuses on topics of feeling deeply, alignment and embodiment as crucial ingredients for change making.



Illustrations: Marie Gourdain

Photo: Aqueene Wilson

Merel works with a variety of independent artists, dance companies, festivals, theatres and production houses across Europe for over ten years already. Her approach to dance dramaturgy is that of a social practice in which she combines her sensitivity for (inter)personal dynamics with her ability for critical and conceptual thinking. Over time, this has led her into facilitation and alignment coaching. Her work in dance also made her an ambassador for the importance of embodied learning in the widest sense of the word.

Merel’s work covers a wide range of activities, from accompaniment of artists and artistic directors, to researching and facilitating dialogue between different communities, to commissioned writing, as well as the curation and facilitation of events. Currently, her practice is focussed on (team) coaching, organizational dramaturgy and curatorial advice.