Charlotte Nauwelaers
Who are you as a performer/artist?
I would describe myself as a mover rather than a dancer. For me the focus is always on sensation rather than the visual outcome. My passion is to move with others. I find dance to be a connecting force and do therefore enjoy the community within dance. It is interesting to focus on the social and cultural role of dance within society. I believe goes way beyond the art and do therefore not even like to call myself an artist or a performer. Dance for me is about sharing a language and fostering relationships.
What are your ambitions?
To create work with other arts forms, in which dance becomes accessible for a bigger audience. I hope to be a part of a world in which dance becomes a connecter in our constant changing world. I aspire to bring dance to people who don’t make it to theater spaces. I hope I can develop myself as a person who inspires others to move together in peace and joy.
Where do you find inspiration?
I find my inspiration in children. I like how they think outside of the capacities of our adult formed brains. Next to that I like to think about the relationships between people within certain settings.
What did you do at your internship & what did you learn?
During my internship at *Danza Contemporánea de Cuba*, I went through an intense journey, both professionally and personally. In the beginning, it was challenging to find my place due to the language barrier. However, I took initiative to join classes and rehearsals, which eventually led me to my first professional project: *The Hidden Door*, which we performed at the National Theater of Cuba.
Throughout this period, I learned a great deal, technically, about body language, spatial awareness, movement quality, and partnering, but also mentally, about perseverance, resilience, and the importance of connection, both with myself and with others. Facing challenges like illness, isolation, and even flooding, I learned what it means to stay strong in difficult circumstances, while also discovering the importance of accepting help and building trust.
Another essential part of my learning process was cultural immersion: I witnessed how dance plays a spiritual and social role in Cuban society, especially through Yoruba religious performances, where dance serves as a powerful medium for connection and expression. I also participated in workshops with dancers from Sasha Waltz and made valuable connections in the dance world.
Back in Belgium, I reconnected with the joy of dance through teaching. Working with children reminded me of the pure love for movement and made me realize that as a teacher, I grow just as much as my students. Teaching not only made me a better dancer, but also helped clarify my artistic vision and future ambitions.
My internship year was challenging, enriching, and transformative. I learned who I am as a dancer and as a person, and I’m determined to continue on my artistic path with more calm, direction, and most importantly: joy.
This page was last updated on July 6, 2025