I met Stijn in a Besitos Resturant in Germany. I taught an audience workshop at the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden before the German premiere of Sao Paulo Companhia de Danca (Iracity Cardoso, Artistic director). After the show the a small group went to besitos for a drink. Stijn was also with us, but I had no Idea it was him. We happen to sit next to each other at the table and so went our introduction:
ME: Hi I am Armando.
HIM: Hi im Stijn.
ME: As in Stijn Celis? (corny-dance-joke)
HIM: yes (completely freaked out)
BOTH: 4 second silent stare….
We had such a random, friendly and interesting conversation. Now, years later in Basel, I got to work with him in the studio. Yet another reminder of how the dance world is so small……
When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up? Did you always want to do what you’re doing now?
When I grew up , I wanted to become a painter or set-designer. I realized that I wanted to try to become a dancer when I saw Jorge Don perform in 1979.
Stijn’s Favorite Things
I find that a lot of artists have trouble committing to a favorite thing. So I dare ask you, what is ONE of your favorite: Things to eat? Books? Movies? Ballets?
I fully commit to the thing I am doing at the moment!
I like dancers who…
…know why they like dancing and fully and intelligently enjoy their choice with creativity and curiosity!
Dear aspiring artists,
Fully commit to shape your dream, don’t look backwards unless it’s memorable
–Stijn Celis
Armando Braswell is a professional dancer and teacher from New York City. After receiving his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance from The Juilliard School in 2006, Armando danced with Ballett Theater Munich, Gauthier Dance Stuttgart and just recently completed his final season as a soloist with Ballett Theater Basel. Aside from his dancing career, Armando has established himself as a guest teacher in high demand, teaching amateurs and professionals worldwide, including at the Prix De Lausanne and the Juilliard School. Armando has also choreographed for many dance and opera stages, as well as television. In addition to his artistic activities, Armando is also active in the journalistic and social media fields. His popular arts blog, "Interview En L'air", has become widely known in the international dance scene and earned him a place at "Dance For You Magazine” as a permanent correspondent and his media company “Creative Promotional Media” has earned him opportunities to work with clients such as Fondation Beyeler, Basellandschaftliche Kantonal Bank and Theater Basel in Switzerland. In 2015, Armando began to build an arts community in Basel where dancers of all levels and all body types could train in a supportive and professional environment. This idea has since expanded and in 2017, he and his wife Lisa founded the “Braswell Arts Center” – a space for innovation and collaboration in all art forms located in Basel, Switzerland – and in 2019, they officially founded the “Braswell Arts Association,” a non-profit arts organization dedicated to support emerging and established artists. Through arts education and exchange, Armando hopes to encourage young choreographers and to promote mentorship and inclusion within the local and international arts community. www.armandobraswell.com
Thank you Stijn! 🙂