![Daan Vervoort](/sites/default/files/styles/alumni_detail/public/2021-02/daan.jpg?h=b1035b3c&itok=vv2L1eTW)
Daan Vervoort
He was born in Turnhout, Belgium. He began his ballet studies at the Royal Ballet School in Antwerp, with Jan Nuyts, Kimmy Lauwens and Marinella Pañeda as teachers. During these years, he danced choreographies by Tom Bosma, Tamara Rosso, Ken Hioco, Ann Van den Broek, Nancy Rusek and Toru Shimazaki.
In 2005, he won the gold medal for contemporary dance at the Biarritz International Dance Competition. In 2006, he joined the Introdans Ensemble voor de Jeugd (Introdans Ensemble for Youth) led by Roel Voorintholt. In September 2007, he joined Compañía Nacional de Danza. In September 2013, he was promoted to the soloist category. Since joining CND, he has danced lead roles in Kol Nidre and Gnawa, by Nacho Duato, Herman Schmerman, by William Forsythe, Minus 16, by Ohad Naharin and Casi-Casa, by Mats Ek.
In 2015, he played the role of Don José in Carmen, by Johan Inger.
He also collaborated with other renowned choreographers such as Jirí Kylián, Itzik Galili, Goyo Montero, Alexander Ekman and Alejandro Cerrudo. In 2013, he took part in the Gala of the Stars in Paris. In May 2016, together with Emilia Gisladöttir, he defended the candidacy of the Carmen choreography at the Benois de la Danse Gala in the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. He received the esteemed prize for best choreography 2016, edging out the choreographer Johan Inger.
Anyone can dance, but not everyone can be a dancer.
Dear Royal Ballet School Antwerp dancers,
My years as a student at the Royal Ballet School Antwerp were some of the most memorable and instructive to date. Savour the time with your classmates, your teachers and the moments in the dance halls and always give it your all. Stay open to new experiences and don't give in to jealousy. Keep demanding the utmost of yourself and have a mind of your own. Life as a professional dancer is a privilege; you get to see the world and can express your emotions on stage. Of course, this life is not always easy.
A teacher once told me: “Anyone can dance, but not everyone can be a dancer.” That sentence holds an irrefutable truth.
My career as a dancer didn't start at my first company, but at the Royal Ballet School Antwerp. And I'm very grateful for that.