About – Gerard Mosterd

Gerard Edwin Mosterd

Born: April 21, 1964
Graduated: Royal Conservatory in The Hague

Koninklijk Conservatorium Den Haag
Yang Min Shan Chinese
Culture University Taipei
Rijksscholengemeenschap
Koninklijk Conservatorium Den Haag

Choreographer, Dancer, Director, Producer, Writer and Lecturer.

Gerard Mosterd, being of Dutch-Indonesian ancestry, conceptually explores in his work the pros and cons he has encountered of being raised in both a European and Asian cultural heritage. By integrating elements of the Western and South East Asian dance theatres as well as initiating workshops he aims to contribute to a contemporary cultural dialogue and an improved mutual understanding in particular between the Netherlands and the S.E. Asian region which was colonially ruled by the Dutch for more than 350 years. As a third generation Eurasian he researches the complex integration process of the East Indian immigrant community in Dutch society through the medium of the performing arts.

Biography

Gerard Mosterd grew up in a Dutch-Indian / Indonesian family in Amersfoort. In 1985 he graduated in academic, either modern and folk dance and music at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. Followed by an international career as a professional dancer at the Royal Ballet of Flanders, Hwa Kang Dance Company Taipei, London Festival Ballet, English National Ballet, Concordanse in Paris and Basel City Theatre.

Worldwide it conducts academic, historical and contemporary works of famous and less famous romantic 19th-century, modern and post-modern choreographers. In 1986 he studied at Yan Ming Shan Chinese Culture University in Taipei. His study, he combines with performances at the Department of performing arts. He dances in movie Makarova’s Swan Lake in 1988 (with the London Festival Ballet). In 1992 he was promoted at the English National Ballet to junior soloist.

In 1994, Gerard was appointed deputy director, ballet master, first dancer and choreography assistant of Qu Ping, which is recommended by William Forsyth (Frankfurt Ballet). Qu Ping operates from a Chinese background as a choreographer and director of the dance ensemble at the Theater Ulm. The company trains daily Tai Chi.

In 1996 Mosterd returned to the Netherlands and toured as soloist with the Capital Operetta from Amsterdam. He then performs with the intercultural company Hardbeat Yusuf Daniels and with the choreographer duo Voortman & Young. He also participates in commercial projects such as the Grand Gala du Disque (AVRO). Occasionally he works as editor and researcher for film and television productions (IDTV and Monsoon Pictures Singapore).

In 1996, Gerard Mosterd start choreographing and producing independent, alternative dance performances in the Melkweg in Amsterdam. With these performances he investigates thematically and physically Asia-Europe concepts.Inspired by Levi-Strauss, Sellars, Schechner, Artaud, Brook, Mnouchkine and own Asian origin he makes intercultural physical theater according to a phenomenological approach that does not take as its starting point the folkloric tradition.

Twice an international jury selects work by him to compete for the prize of the International Competition for Choreography in Hanover in 1997 and 1999. “Ketuk Tilu” , a trio of sensual Jaipongan music from West Java, is a distinctive Indo-European modern dance performance for the 1999 edition of the Pasar Malam Besar, an annual Asian festival in the Hague, where Mosterd introduces modern dance. Nine seasons he develops a private audience and he launches terms like Eurasian modern dance.

In the Netherlands acquires Mosterd brand awareness in Dutch-Indian cultural circuit and moves from there with his productions towards the Dutch stages. As an independent operating Dutch theater with an Indian background, he finally makes a decisive step towards the contemporary Indonesian arts.

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Improvisations at Eki Studio – Jakarta, January 2009

From 2002 Mosterd with his productions annually travels along theaters and festivals in Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia. So far, he realized 37 dance performances which seven extensively toured Asia and the Netherlands.Some are full evening. Often there is cooperation with leading Indonesian performing artists. In 2007 he toured and produces a performance by the legendary West Sumatran silat group Gumarang Sakti, resulting in 56 global events, combined with workshops and lectures on the matrilineal Minangkabau. The performances and workshops will take place in the theater and festival circuit from Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Netherlands and Germany.

In 2011 toured Mosterd Indonesian theaters along with a Javanese version of Stravinsky’s L’Histoire du Soldat, conducted by the Dutch Chamber Music Company and prominent Javanese performers as Martin Miroto, Eko Supriyanto and Sri Qadariatin. The same production opened in June 2012 the 11th Indonesian Dance Festival. A new version will be followed by a tour in collaboration with poet, journalist and activist Goenawan Mohamad. Mosterd performs as an actor and dancer in Garin Nugroho’s Indonesian all-star movie “Tjokroaminoto, Guru Bangsa” which opens in 2015.

In 2010 Gerard started the agency, Kantorpos which facilitates the exchange of artists between Asia and Europe.He regularly contributes articles to about Asian arts in Latitudes , Monsoon and Dance Audience . Gerard is several years associated as principal resident “guest choreographer and teacher at EKI Dance Company in Jakarta.He is consulted as a consultant and was a few seasons member of the selection committee of the CinemAsia Film Festival .

Commissioned by artist, gallery owner and entrepreneur Rob Malasch he participates in the international programming of the event Indomania 2015 in the Melkweg in Amsterdam. In it he presents controversial issues such as human rights activist Poncke Princen and work of filmmaker Joshua Oppenheimer. Frequently he is invited as a dance teacher and choreographer for companies and educational institutions in Southeast Asia.

Gerard Edwin Mosterd

Biography

Pas de douze London Festival Ballet, Natalia Makarova’s Swan Lake 1988

End of first scene London Festival Ballet, Natalia Makarova’s Swan Lake 1988