Context programming

Celebrating Diversity

Black Achievement Month

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Dates

17 October

Location

Dutch National Opera & Ballet, Auditorium

Running time

1:00

Tickets

€25

Celebrating diversity

After 5 years of Dancing Diversity, Dutch National Opera and Dutch National Ballet are joining forces for the first time. Together we will dedicate three special moments during this month to Black Achievement Month and the recognition of talent of color.

Celebrating Diversity

During this first joint celebration, we recognize that makers of colour have always contributed to our society in the past and will always continue to contribute to our society in the present and the future. Ambassador Sebia Plantefève-Castryck will dance in a choreography by Young Associate Creative Sedrig Verwoert and pianist Djuwa Mroivili will perform a composition written especially for her by the South African composer Neo Muyanga. As the two curators of this evening of celebration, they also bring several other artists of colour with them. Other contributions include various dancers from Dutch National Ballet, spoken word artist Roziena Salihu and countertenor Arturo den Hartog. Several soloists from the new creation How ANANSI freed the stories of the world will also make their appearance: from audience favourites Katia Ledoux and Claron McFadden to the promising young tenors Zwakele Tshabalala and Makudu Senaoana. Carla Nahadi Babelegoto and Daniel Robert Silva will also contribute to this concert.

‘Black Achievement Month is a month that celebrates black artists and other prominent people of colour.’

SOPHIE DE LINT (DIRECTOR DUTCH NATIONAL OPERA) AND TED BRANDSEN (DIRECTOR DUTCH NATIONAL BALLET)

Black Achievement Month

During the month of October, the Black Achievement Month Foundation will present the special contributions of people with African roots to the world and to Dutch society in particular. For a significant number of them, this country is an important focal point in their development.

Black Achievement Month

With fair success, people with African heritage have rooted themselves here and can be found in a range of disciplines in society. Among them are scientists, doctors, lawyers, writers, artists, theatre makers, athletes and entrepreneurs. All these talents and their achievements deserve to be brought to the attention of the widest and most diverse audience possible.

This year, Black Achievement Month is taking place for the sixth time. It is a recognition of the many qualities that can be found in the black community. The wealth of talent and expertise justifies this initiative and is also an ode to diversity and new citizenship. It also contributes to a balanced image of people with African roots. This is an image that is too often determined by what was said and written about persons of African descent in slavery and colonial times.