Tell us: who are you and why do you enjoy going to work? I am Iselle Claassens, 38 years old and live in Eindhoven with my husband and two daughters. I have past event coming to the Parktheater since I was little af even worked there for 10 years, as a programmer and supervisor of young creators. Going to the theater is one of the things I like most, especially to dance and youth performances, but you can also make me happy with cabaret, theater and the af musical.
I work as a fundraiser and coach, mainly with dancers and organizations from the urban scene. I work with many talented and inspiring people and as a freelancer I have a lot of variety and freedom in my work, which I love. I also make podcasts, like the series Dancing With Darkness with thinX creator Jess Oberlin. But also the F1 Pitcast, which I make with my sister about Formula 1.
What are your biggest motivations? I really love helping others make their dreams come true. As a fundraiser and coach, I make sure that creators get the resources they need to bring their artistic vision to life and share it with the public. As a podcast creator, just like the dance creators I work with, I also want to share beautiful and unique stories.
This movement generates energy, and we love to pass that on to others. With this #doorSTROOM, we can make the world a little more beautiful every day! What inspiration do you find important to share with others? I find the beauty and magic of theater truly special. The worlds created through bodies, light, set pieces, music, and text let you escape—if only for a moment—from a reality that isn’t always so beautiful for everyone. I’d love to show that to as many people as possible. I also always get a lot of energy from dance battles—it’s truly amazing to check how the dancers react to the music and to each other, and how the most beautiful things emerge right there on the spot. I highly recommend it to anyone who’s never past event to one.
How important do you think people should become part of this #throughSTROOM? Nothing should. But makers often have interesting stories to share. Just how a creative process works I like to hear. How did the performance come about? Who were all involved? With that knowledge, you look at performances from a different perspective.
Which STROOM MeetUp has stuck with you the most and why? I have guided three MeetUps and they were all special in their own way. For example, Dunja Jocic talked about the time and money pressures under which she had to make her performance, Shailesh Bahoran brought the puppets they danced with in the performance, and I was a real fan of Alexander van Tournhout after the performance and MeetUp.
The MeetUp gives the opportunity for great meetings and real conversations. Which person would you like to meet one day? Everyone with a great story I would love to meet.
What is your secret to a good, in-depth conversation? A good preparation. I already read a lot about the maker and watch videos of the work. I also write out questions in advance, so I can take all that with me when I have the conversation.
MEET ISELLE
You can meet Iselle during the MeetUp of these performances:
Agenda
