Black Achievement Month
Every October, the Black Achievement Month Foundation celebrates the distinctive contributions of individuals with African roots to the world and Dutch society in particular. As a result, the Black Achievement Month Foundation, in collaboration with other partners across the country, highlights the talents of diverse people. The goal is to celebrate diversity while combating racism, discrimination, and intolerance. Dutch National Opera & Ballet will present an opera and ballet programme this year to reflect on the legacy of the past, honour contemporary artists, and look forward to the future, as part of our long-standing partnership with the Black Achievement Month Foundation.
This year, Dutch National Ballet presents a programme, Dancing Diversity, of three choreographies by choreographer and Young Creative Associate Sedrig Verwoert: Slightly damp in a misty street, The hard rock will seem soft to us and The Ritual. Among the dancers performing are Sebia Plantefève-Castryck and Davi Ramos, both Black Achievement Month ambassadors during previous editions.
BLUE RAGA, presented by Dutch National Opera, honours the life and work of pianist/composer Majoie Hajary (1921-2017). She worked on La Larme d’or, a great opera depicting the history of her native Suriname, for nearly 30 years. A final version of the opera, in which Hajary included blues and Indian raga influences, was never completed. She left behind a plethora of music and text material when she died in 2017, which was donated to The Hague City Archives / Netherlands Music Institute (NMI). This information serves as the foundation for this evening. With the assistance of Ellen de Vries, Majoie Hajary’s biographer (www.majoiehajary.org), theatre creator Maarten van Hinte, and countertenor Arturo den Hartog, among others.
