By Michael R. Granger
How do you measure the impact of a person? More often than not, people mistakenly group impact with influence, and measure a person accordingly. All too many times, people stop at the influence part: how popular is that person? How many followers do we have? Who is talking about me and my company? How much love do people feel for me? Fame for fame's sake. Followers for followers' sake.
When St. Maarten lost Cees van Dolderen, founder and father of Motiance Dance School, the impact of the man immediately became clear when hundreds of his students, past and present, began expressing how he has positively influenced their lives. They spoke about his ability to inspire, his love for them and their common art form, his strengths as a person and his dedication to his school.
Make no mistake, after decades of service to St. Maarten, Cees wielded influence and significant stature in the community. While cooperating with other foundations and activities over the years though, Cees remained focussed on one thing and one thing alone: Motiance.
From a premise of providing everyone who wanted to dance with the opportunity to dance, Cees founded the school in 1985 and could boast of quite a line-up of former students who have chosen dance or teaching dance as a career: Percy Kruythoff graduated from the Hogeschool voor de Kunst in Amsterdam as a performing dancer, and performed in Holland's leading modern dance company of Truus Bronkhorst; Collin Roberts, after dancing in the second company of Alvin Ailey, now performs in prestigious companies in the USA.
Nicole de Weever, a graduate of the most prestigious NYU, is a well know dancer who toured the world in West Side Story and now performs on Broadway in the Fela! Uri Eugenio has recently graduated from Fontys Dance Academy in Tilburg and performs in the Netherlands, Danica Zichem, Mia Amato and Ihndhira Marlin are pursuing dance careers at dance academies in the Netherlands and the USA.
The best people to tell his story and speak about his impact are therefore his students and the people he has worked closely with over the years in the area of dance. So let's hear from them, in their own words:
Clara Reyes
Director of Imbali School for Creative Movement
My first male dance partner was Cees van Dolderen and those early memories of dancing with him created a bond that lasted a lifetime. He was a wonderful supporter throughout my career as a dance artist at home and abroad. Cees was and remained a dedicated and committed artist; although not a dancer himself, he loved dance beyond measure and did everything in his power to create and maintain dance at a standard of excellence.
A true collaborator, Cees always included me on major events to keep Imbali and Motiance in joint projects. In a society where as artists we have to fight every step of the way to realize our craft, Cees made sure dance would continue to be a vibrant, innovative and well-equipped world on St. Maarten. I was devastated for him when the school went through with the recent separation; it was a blow to his vision, but many dancers rallied around him in support that his legacy would live on.
Susha Hien
Director, Dance Theater of St. Maarten
Cees is the reason many students from St. Maarten have a career in dance. Cees was a true lover of the arts, of dance, and of all the students that studied dance at his school. Cees will forever live on within the hearts of the students he touched; he always gave a helping hand to those who needed it. Through our many years together, he enabled me to become a better teacher and choreographer. Together we spent many, many years working on such wonderful shows and musicals which were Cees's biggest love. I will instil his memory into every student that passes through the doors of Dance Theater of St. Maarten and my dancers will carry his name forever – "The Vandoll Dancers" – and they will carry on his traditions.
Nicole de Weever
Professional Broadway dancer
What a blessing to St. Maarten! Cees was not only director of Motiance, he was also one of the most positive influences to St. Maarten. He blessed and touched the lives of everyone he came in contact with, creating a safe place for the youth to explore and define themselves creatively with no limitations. There are some people in your life that comes to bring a certain message to touch lives even if they are going about their own life simply existing in harmony with the community, but Cees was the perfect example of what it means to be a powerful human being.
My early memories of Cees felt like they took place just yesterday. He was always soft spoken, encouraging and supportive. I remember at one point I fell out of love with dance and I had decided to take some time away; were it not for Cees, I would not be dancing and living my dream today. Cees sat with me and, in one conversation, changed my life forever.
Ihndhira Marlin
Co-Director, Dance Theater of St. Maarten
One cannot mention dance without making reference to the patriarch of dance on St. Maarten. That is a big title to carry, but he carried it with grace. Cees, you gave me many of the necessary ingredients I needed to attempt to dance my way through life, the way you encouraged many of us to. You gave me a second home, a second family and some of my fondest childhood memories. All these gifts warm my heart on a daily basis. It was in your school that I danced my first steps and discovered the boundless nature and beauty of movement in my career and classes. I will pass that gift on to others.
I would have loved to have you take your last breath with your entire family of dancers by your side. We were all there in spirit, though, and you in our hearts. The family that was born under your wings will forever live on. You will inspire us and future generations. With every move we make, your life's work will be honoured and with every new dancer that is born, your legacy will be empowered. Without you, St. Maarten and many of its children would not be where they are today.
Adrien Busby
Former Motiance Company dancer
As I think about Cees' passing, I remember so many moments of admiration. I always wonder why this Dutch man wanted to live on St. Maarten and share his passion for dance. He could have easily lived in Holland and see and do live dance. He instead created a vast, expanding dance empire which he called Motiance, symbolizing his favourite bird, so that all who was, is and will be part of the Motiance family will soar to the highest heights.
One of my fondest memories is of him passionately talking about how he is building a traditional island house on the hill. He goes on to explain that the entire house will be of wood. I admired that so much of him, not only because of his passion for detail, but more for his continuous drive to keep it traditional. Cees, you are now soaring high...R.I.P.
Percy Kruythoff
Professional dancer and teacher
(also on behalf of his sister Candice Kruythoff, who danced with Motiance)
Cees has given me a future as a dancer by supporting my passion for dance. As a young man on St. Maarten, wanting to be a professional dancer seemed like an impossible dream, but Cees made that dream possible. Cees was always in my prayers and my gratitude to him is eternal. Let St. Maarten continue his work, because his unselfish contribution is a legacy we must not forget.
Melinda Hoeve
Board member, Motiance
My first encounter with Cees goes back some twenty seven years ago, when at the age of six I first attended ballet classes at May Green studio in Saunders. Cees at the time danced with that company. As we know Cees went on to open his own dance studio which eventually lead to the establishment of Motiance Dance School.
My experiences with Cees are two-fold; I had the opportunity and pleasure to be a student and company member for thirteen years where Cees served as Director, and I worked along with Cees as President and Secretary of Motiance Dance School Foundation.
In my view, Cees is best described as an educator whose passion for dance and love for St. Maarten led a determined Cees to open a dance school where all interested persons could attend dance classes, regardless of their age, social, political, religious or economical background. Cees gave his heart and soul to the Motiance Dance School. Cees also had a passion for many other things: cooking, travelling, culture, art, music and gardening. These were clearly reflected in his many themes, shows, recitals and keepsakes he would make for every single student at the dance school each year-end.
Cees lived, breathed and ate Motiance. Cees is Motiance. I know Cees would want us to celebrate and reflect on all these good memories. As difficult as this may be at times, this is exactly what I am doing and I ask all interested persons to do the same in this memorable reflection and tribute to Cees!
Marlow Delafuente-Heijmans
Former Motiance company dancer
1985. It was the beginning of what has become a St. Maarten icon: Motiance Dance School and with it founder Cees van Dolderen. I was about 10 years old, when my parents took me to dance classes probably every other day. The school was located above the Movies 1 & 2.
Small, yet comfy, we managed to do everything we needed to do there, from rehearsing for our shows, to making and decorating our own costumes (cutting cloth, adding glitter etc., to selling our show tickets. The first show we did (at least the one I remember) was at the cultural centre on Back Street, later at the Great Bay Sports Auditorium, and even later at Maho. Nowadays, I'm in awe of all the professional costumes and set designs that are part of every show.
We have seen teachers come and go, but Susha and Arlene were always a big part of Motiance, pushing the dancers to be the best they can be. Over the years we grew into young adults and formed the Company of Motiance Dance School. Dancing at least 10 hours each week and spending most of our Saturdays rehearsing.
Judy and Melinda Hoeve, Percy Kruijthof, Adrien Busby, Aisha Brandon, Natasha Welage, Eunicio Martina, Dale Hodge, Geesha William- Alaran, Nancy Drouin, Evelyn Fleming are some of the names you may remember. We were a big family and we spent hours together, even hanging out at the dance school when we did not have class.
I look back with very fond memories of my time at Motiance and I'm sure my parents do too. I now have a seven year old daughter myself who started dancing this past year and loves it. I support her to the fullest because I know how it will benefit her throughout her life.
Danica Zichem
Former Motiance Company dancer
Words can't even begin to describe how I feel at this point. All I know is that Cees van Dolderen was a man who influenced my life tremendously. I have known Cees for pretty much my whole life. It all started when I entered the Motiance Dance School as a toddler. It is because of him that I am where I am today. He gave us the opportunity to discover the art form and let it influence our lives uniquely.
He was someone who always supported the youth and the arts. Motiance was his life and he was ready to do anything in his power to create an environment where people of all ages, races and backgrounds could come together, dance together and be a family together. Cees gave us the opportunity to create memories that will stay with us forever. I will never trade that for anything in the world.
Cees was a great man with the warmest heart. His kindness and love for us all is something that can't be replaced. He will be missed, but most certainly not forgotten. He has fought many battles and I know that he is at peace now. I look forward to dancing every step in his honour.
And finally, in his own words:
"I never wanted to hear a child say he or she had wanted to dance but couldn't afford it. I don't have children (although, I suppose I have a whole school of them), but I have lived for the school, am lucky to have been able to do it and thank everyone who has helped the school get where it is. I have defended it; I have been humbled by it; and because of it, I can now say about my life, with reason, that I have made a difference somewhere."
