In 2025 SNDO is reaching an important jubilee. To celebrate half a century of SNDO as a laboratory for dance and performance, we are proudly unfolding a trajectory of public events. These events are meant to shed the light on SNDO past, present, and future but also to serve as ongoing platforms for the research, explorations and knowledges to keep on developing and disseminating in and thorough these encounters.
All events are collaborations with different institutes and partners who support and share SNDO concerns, pedagogical inquiries and our love for being in this world in lively and life-affirming ways.
In this trajectory, it is our pleasure to present the documentary film RIA on the invitation of Antic Theatre in Barcelona.
Ria Higler
Thie film gives a glimpse into the relevance and impact of Ria Higler who can be considered a ‘mother-spirit’ of SNDO. A graduate of the second student cohort of Moderne Dans Opleiding, as SNDO was called back in 1976, she transitioned into teaching in 1980. From 1989 to 1998, she served as the co-director of the school alongside Trude Cone, continuing as a core team member, mentor, and teacher until April 2023, when she passed away.
Throughout her life, Ria Higler was a dedicated educator, influencing hundreds of students and alumni with whom she worked. In addition to teaching, Ria enjoyed collaborating with other artists and developing her own choreographic work.
Drawing from materials in her personal archive, including footage from her travels in India and Indonesia, performances, and interviews with individuals who worked and studied with her, we present a documentary film aimed at activating Ria’s archive and ensuring that her teachings, spirit, and legacy remain visible and accessible for future generations.
The film serves as a visual ode celebrating the life and work of one of SNDO’s most impactful educators.
About SNDO
The Amsterdam based SNDO – School for New Dance Development – offers a full time four-year professional education course leading to a Bachelor’s degree in Art – Choreography.
The school was founded in 1975 as an attempt to find new directions for dance next to the existing forms and styles that dominated the field. After fifty years, the SNDO remains inquisitive, open minded, and in the foreground of progressive developments in the fields of dance and performance.
In the curriculum, the school establishes the conditions from which the creativity of the student can emerge. Reflection on the specific qualities of dance and performance as art forms is developed, and awareness of the body and the artistic implications of working with it take precedence.
The programme fosters experimentation and critical reflection and guides students to develop their own artistic practice as well as to contribute to the development of the dance field at large.
SNDO’s international reputation, carefully curated programme and rich pool of students and alumni continue to contribute to the development, renewal, challenges and expansion of the established ways of thinking choreography and making (dance)performances.
By visiting this program you are supporting the Ria Higler Fund. 50% of tickets proceeds go to Ria Higler Fund helping students from outside EU to be able to study at SNDO. You can learn more about the fund here.
Bojana Mladenović
Bojana Mladenović is artistic director of SNDO – School for New Dance Development, choreography Bachelor at the Amsterdam University of the Arts.
She graduated from DasArts (now DAS Theater), a postgraduate program in contemporary performing arts in Amsterdam. After studies, her works were produced at the Frascati Theater in Amsterdam and featured at the Something Raw Festival, Beursschouwburg in Brussels and Xing in Bologna. From 2010-2014, Bojana was the artistic director of Het Veem Theater in Amsterdam, highlighting the work of a new generation of artists in the field of choreography, performance and experimental performing arts. Bojana was born in Belgrade, where she lived and worked as choreographer and performer, and where she was one of the founders of Station – Service for Contemporary Dance, Nomad Dance Academy and Druga Scena.
