Indian dance, big themes and even bigger surprises
Quick feet, hip hop, Indian goddesses and facial expressions that tell you more than a whole life story. In these three different performances by dance company Kalpanarts, we see old customs from all over the world through a modern lens
Three performances in one
Choreographer, dancer and anthropologist Kalpana Raghuraman brings us two new versions of previous performances ‘Tara’ and ‘Fluid’. And additionally, Raghuraman will perform a brand new solo ‘Whisper’, which addresses the struggle to be taken seriously within a medical system that does not always listen. Heavy stuff? Not necessarily! Kalpana is known for her talent to make us look at the world in new ways, sometimes even by taking us towards the stars.
Program
Kalpana has reexamined her two most well-known duets ‘Tara’ and ‘Fluid’. ‘Fluid’ shakes the boundaries of masculinity and strength by accompanying breakdance with Indian singing by Shashwathi Jagadish. ‘Tara’ takes us more into a world full of stars and planets, Indian dance and heavy rock. Anyone who knows Kalpanarts knows that this performance will also reintroduce you to India, to dance and to music. The rest of the world will slowly but surely reveal itself to you a little. A performance jam-packed with personal stories and vital social themes of today.
About Kalpana
Kalpana Raghuraman is the artistic director of dance company Kalpanarts. She grew up with classical Indian dance. She now combines that background with urban and contemporary styles to create a new and interesting dance language that appeals to many more people. In addition to her work at Kalpanarts, which she founded in 2015, she has traveled through India while further immersing herself into the dance traditions. From the 2024-2025 season, she will be a Creative Associate at Het Nationale Ballet for the coming two years.
10 days of ongoing expo, 11 events and 45+ local creatives showcased.
Join us September 11–21 for We Make The Hague, a celebration of the city through the eyes of local creatives. From photographers and filmmakers to illustrators and designers, the expo brings together visual stories inspired by life in The Hague. We’ve put together a packed programme of events to explore, connect, and create together, including: official opening night, poetry & spoken word open mic, coworking, sketching meetup, creative workshops, makers market, Made in The Hague Dialogue, book club & wine, dinner between the art and more.
Stop by one of the events, connect with the community, and support the creative talent that makes this city so special. Let’s make The Hague together.
🗓 Exposition: September 11–21 📍 Location: Kunstbar, Noordeinde 152A, The Hague 🔗 More info: www.wemakethehague.com
Location: The Social Hub The Hague – Hoefkade 11, 2526 BN Den Haag
On Friday, September 12, CreativeMornings/The Hague will explore this month’s global theme, Blossom. Think of it as breakfast full of creativity: an inspiring talk from a local speaker, a room full of curious and open-minded people from all over the world, and the chance to both bring a friend and make new ones.
CreativeMornings is an international community that welcomes everyone, whether you’re an artist, entrepreneur, student, or simply curious person. Our events are always free and they’re designed to start your morning with ideas, connection, and energy. We’ll begin with a talk followed by a Q&A, then move into a breakfast where conversations flow as easily as the coffee. Whether you’re new to The Hague or have been here for years, you’ll leave feeling inspired and part of something bigger.
From late summer, Kunstmuseum Den Haag will present the very first European retrospective of the work of painter Lois Dodd (1927), a pioneer of post-war American art who achieved international recognition later in life. Framing the Ephemeral will bring together over a hundred of her paintings, with a focus on work from the 1960s and 70s, much of which has never previously been seen in Europe. Dodd is still active eight decades on, demonstrating the power of her approach: framing the world around her in order to capture the tiniest changes over time. Her career is a celebration of the act of painting. Dodd ventures out to work in the natural environment because painting, for her, is a way of being in the world—deliberate, tactile, and endlessly repeatable. The catalogue includes contributions by Lucy R. Lippard and Katy Hessel.
“Lois Dodd’s work testifies to her uncompromising devotion to ‘looking’. Her paintings celebrate life as it really is, with no embellishments, but with all the more depth for that. Eight decades of work reflect her impressive integrity and quiet strength.” – Louise Bjeldbak Henriksen, curator at Kunstmuseum Den Haag
Looking is a way of understanding your surroundings, framing reality. This is the core of Dodd’s method. Everything is about the framing: through the window, through a doorway, with her hands. This is how she captures, what she sees there and then – a cropped snapshot of a fleeting, unrepeatable moment, painted with rapid brushwork and thin layers of paint. Dodd paints the everyday with a sharp eye for framed views, light and atmosphere. Her subjects are familiar: tranquil landscapes, night skies, an interior in a mirror, weathered barns and urban scenes, often devoid of people. The world around her in New York, Maine, and at the Delaware Water Gap in New Jersey. She returns to a place time and again, recording the slightest changes in her environment. Dodd shifts subtly between figuration and abstraction, with influences from artists including Piet Mondrian in her compositions of lines and planes.
TENACIOUS
Dodd played a key role on the post-war New York art scene and, in the 1950s, was one of the founding members of the Tanager Gallery: a place where artists made their own space to show their work. She associated with artists like Willem de Kooning and Alex Katz, and had an adjacent studio to Katz’s in Maine. Dodd is exceptionally tenacious. While the art world saw wave after wave of new movements in the second half of the twentieth century – from abstract expressionism to pop art, from minimalism to conceptual art – she remained true to her own method: observing and painting what she sees. While innovation can be mistaken for progress, Dodd shows that sticking to a personal vision can be just as powerful. Her work was a rare beacon of calm, dedication and focus in the tumultuous twentieth century. Dodd observes changes at a micro level.
FOOTHOLD
Although Dodd has been working uninterrupted for eighty years – she is still painting at the age of 98 – it took a long time for her to gain recognition. It was not until 2012 that she had her first major solo exhibition at Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art in the United States. Now, her work features in prestigious collections like those of MoMA, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Smithsonian Museum of American Art in Washington D.C. The exhibition at Kunstmuseum Den Haag will finally give her work the attention it deserves in Europe. The exhibition catalogue published by Hannibal Books includes essays by Katy Hessel, Faye Hirsch, Vincent Katz, Lucy R. Lippard, Laura McLean-Ferris, Phil Alexandre and Karen Wilkin. Kunstmuseum Den Haag is currently working on a documentary about Lois Dodd which will be screened at the exhibition.
An international group of talented artists from all over the globe, as they exhibit and sell a variety of their work.
Saturday 27 September 2025, 10am-4pm
Art Exhibition with 10 artists, all multi national, all with various art works, showing and selling to the public. Very talented individuals with impressive art work to view! Please come and support us. To say hi, but also maybe buy from us too!
Cash or Tikki payments accepted.
Free entrance.
At The Church Of Our Saviour, Bezuidenhuitzeweg 157, 2594 AG Den Haag.
Note: please use the Helenastraat entrance – there are doors at the side of the building around the back to gain entry.
THE TONY AND GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING MUSICAL PLAYING AT ROYAL THEATRE CARRÉ – MUST END 6 SEPTEMBER
The internationally acclaimed Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical by singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell and director Rachel Chavkin is currently playing in the Netherlands until 6 September – don’t miss it!
This Broadway original is produced in the Netherlands in its original language (English), with a UK and Dutch mixed cast, and with direct involvement from the original creative team.
Hadestown premiered in June 2025 at Royal Theatre Carré for a strictly limited season. This unique production is initiated and led by Royal Theatre Carré under the banner of Broadway in Carré, which brings the highest quality West End and Broadway productions to the Netherlands.
Meet the cast of Hadestown
The role of Hermes, the charismatic and quick-witted narrator who guides the audience through the highs and lows of this mythic journey, is shared by Claudia de Breij and Maarten Heijmans. Claudia is a comedian, author, radio host, singer, and theatre creator and makes her musical debut in Hadestown. Maarten is an acclaimed actor and singer, best known for his portrayal of Ramses Shaffy in the television series Ramses, among other notable roles and work as a singer and musician.
Jeangu Macrooy (Jesus Christ Superstar, Eurovision 2021) brings his rich vocals and emotional depth to Orpheus, an idealistic musician whose belief in the power of song drives him to defy fate. Sara Afiba (De Hospita) plays Eurydice, a fiercely independent young woman struggling to survive in a world that offers her little mercy.
Edwin Jonker (Goede Tijden Slechte Tijden, Jesus Christ Superstar) as Hades embodies the powerful yet conflicted King of the Underworld, ruling over a world of industry and order. Joy Wielkens, a Dutch actress, singer and theatermaker brings fire and longing to the role of the goddess Persephone, who is torn between two worlds—only she can make spring come again.
They are joined by a stellar company of some of the greatest artists from across the Netherlands and London’s West End, featuring a strong mix of Dutch and UK talent. The mysterious Fates, played by Jony Ayton-Kent, April Darby, and Aïcha Gill, weave destiny with haunting harmonies, foreshadowing the story’s twists. The roles of the workers and swings include Tiago Dhondt Bamberger, Winny Herbert, Maxime Karsten, Willemijn Maandag, Simon Oskarsson, Melissa Otten, Lucas Schilperoort, Christopher Short, and Micky Vermeer.
A unique, international casting process
Casting for Hadestown was an intensive, months-long process, with auditions running simultaneously in London and Amsterdam. The casting team, including directors, musical supervisors, and producers, deliberately looked beyond the traditional musical theatre world.
Madeleine van der Zwaan, director at Royal Theatre Carré:
“In Hadestown, it’s all about authenticity and individuality—being who you are and staying true to yourself. Each character has a clear identity, but every actor brings their own intent and personal essence to the role. This was a key focus in the audition process, beyond just vocal and acting ability.”
Rather than following expected industry routes, the selection process focused on authenticity and individual artistry. The result is a strong ensemble, with a mix of established musical stars, actors, musicians, and vocal talents, forming a dynamic and diverse company. The final cast reflects the remarkable depth of talent in the Netherlands, with a majority of Dutch artists—an outcome that was not predetermined but emerged naturally through the audition process. They are joined on stage by several original UK cast members that starred in Hadestown’s West End premiere.
The sound of Hadestown
The sound of Hadestown blends modern folk with New Orleans-inspired jazz, creating a musical experience unlike any other. The Original Broadway Cast Recording remains one of the most streamed cast albums ever, with over 350 million streams to date.
Beyond its captivating sound, Hadestown stands out for its socially relevant themes, particularly through its lyrics. Songs like “Why We Build the Wall” explore issues of economic disparity, fear-driven politics, and social division. Anaïs Mitchell’s lyrics throughout the musical tackle themes of hope, resilience, and systemic injustice, making Hadestown not just an artistic masterpiece but also a powerful commentary on contemporary society.
A Broadway phenomenon
Hadestown intertwines two love stories: the journey of Orpheus and Eurydice, and the complex relationship between Hades and Persephone. Through the voice of Hermes, the audience is taken on an emotional ride to the underworld and back, exploring themes of faith, doubt, love, and fear.
The New York production of Hadestown is the longest-running show in the 100-year history of the Walter Kerr Theater and continues to be one of Broadway’s top-grossing musicals. The London production opened in February 2024 to huge critical acclaim at the Lyric Theatre, following a sold-out run at the Royal National Theatre. This Dutch premiere marks a rare moment in musical theatre—a Broadway original produced in the Netherlands.
Tickets and additional information are available via Hadestown.nl.
Royal Theatre Carré Amsterdam
Royal Theatre Carré is the most iconic theatre in the Netherlands. Renowned for its exclusive programming of national and international theatre productions of the highest caliber, Carré offers an unparalleled theatrical experience across all genres—from circus and cabaret to pop concerts and opera. For over 137 years, more than 400,000 visitors annually have flocked to the famous theatre on the Amstel River to experience the magic of Carré.
Scenphotography/Images: Danny Kaan
Tickets and additional information are available via Hadestown.nl.
