Ischa Statie (NL, 1998, hij/hem) graduated from the BA Dancer/Maker at ArtEZ university of the Arts. In addition to his dance training, Ischa has a musical background at Codarts Rotterdam and the ArtEZ Conservatory and finished the Pre-master Theater, Dance and Dramaturgy at the Universiteit Utrecht.
Ischa has been working as a performer, maker, teacher, coach, programmer, musician and dramaturg. Ischa’s queerness and bi-cultural background are strongly represented in his performative and dramaturgical approach, own creations and programming.
He worked with (inter)nationally esteemed makers and companies, such as: Skånes Dansteater, Internationaal Theater Amsterdam, Marina Mascarell, Wim Vandekeybus, Plan-d and Allora/Calzadilla.
In his own work he delves into the sensitivity of the body, crafting imaginative worlds through text, movement, and sound. His movement style combines dynamic partner work, fluid improvisation, and energetic floorwork.
Ischa thrives on pushing the boundaries of dance, embracing a multidisciplinary and collective approach to performance and creation. Ischa’s work explores themes of softness and intimacy, challenging conventional perspectives to cultivate empathy in a demanding world. Through his performances, he aims to dissolve the barriers between performer and audience, fostering genuine connections.
His work has been shown at 2 turvenhoog festival, Skånes Dansteater, CineDans, ITS festival, CaDance, café theater festival and festival Alle Tijd. Ischa also worked as director-assistant with Nicole Beutler and was programming assistant at Korzo, where he collaborated on o.a. the programming for season 22/23 and was responsible for Meet the Next.
Ischa Statie’s work as a dance and theater maker is deeply rooted in his queerness and bi-cultural background. Growing up in the Netherlands while having Antillean roots has been a continuous search for connection between these two worlds within him. On one hand, the Dutch culture in which he was raised, and on the other, the Antillean heritage from his father’s side, which has always been a quiet yet profound presence in his life. His identity is intrinsically tied to the tension between these cultures and the colonial history they share, and he constantly examines where he fits in, where he is allowed to claim space, and how these questions shape his sense of self.
As a queer man raised in a traditional environment with normative gender assumptions, Ischa’s work is a dialogue between movement, sound, society, and identity. Through this lens, he explores themes such as connection, empathy, and the ways in which intergenerational experiences, traumas, and cultural legacies shape both body and mind. His artistic practice moves beyond autobiographical elements to address broader questions about belonging and how colonial histories echo in the present.
In works such as De Laatste Tijd and Voelbare Wereld, Ischa examines how we relate to one another and our surroundings in times of drastic change. Using dynamic partner work, fluid improvisation, and tangible experiences, he invites audiences to embark on a journey of personal and cultural discovery alongside the performers. By pushing the boundaries of dance and performance, Ischa aims to foster dialogue about finding one’s place—both within oneself and in the wider world.