In 2009, nine young dance students from the Rotterdam dance academy Codarts took their first steps in the professional dance world, under the guidance of choreographer Conny Janssen. Unpolished, fearless and disarming, they went out into the Dutch theatres, each with the same dream of rising above humdrum affairs as a dancer.

The collaboration with Codarts Rotterdam is being continued in 2012 with MEER RUIS. Once again, Conny Janssen will be delving into the youngsters’ world and trying to unravel their story. For this production, she will select ten young, individual dancers, who together form an exciting reflection of society. 

MEER RUIS combines Conny Janssen’s powerful dance idiom with the raw energy of a new generation of dancers. The music will be performed live by Music Matters Award winner Ming’s Pretty Heroes. MEER RUIS is a collaboration between Holland Dance Festival, Conny Janssen Danst, Codarts Rotterdam and STEPS Festival. The production will go on to tour the Netherlands and Switzerland.

"Its pretty rough and tumble, as if they are constantly arm wrestling in dance. There's an unruliness that gives a pleasant degree of bite to Conny Janssen's generally softer idiom. Absolutely not a polished performance: Janssen sends the twentysomethings onto the field without masquerade." De Volkskrant