Rotterdam, 18 February 2026

Rotterdam is launching a new model to give dance a prominent place in society: the City Choreographer. Danshuis Rotterdam and the Municipality of Rotterdam today announce the appointment of Sheree Lenting as the first to take on this new role. The jury, consisting of Conny Janssen, Connor Schumacher and Lloyd Marengo, unanimously selected Sheree Lenting as City Choreographer 2026. She is appointed for a two-year term.

City Choreographer

For two years, the City Choreographer will serve as an ambassador for dance in Rotterdam.

Working with Rotterdam-based dancers, the City Choreographer will create a new short city choreography, inspired by what is happening in the city. The choreography will premiere on 29 April 2026, International Dance Day, in a public space. After the premiere, it can be presented as a cultural intermezzo at official city events such as openings and celebrations, and can also be commissioned by companies.

“Sheree is a natural-born storyteller who uses socially relevant themes in her work to inspire and empower others. She stands firmly within Rotterdam’s society,” the jury states.

Sheree Lenting

Sheree Lenting (1986) is a Rotterdam-based choreographer and interdisciplinary maker with Surinamese roots. She works at the intersection of dance, film and spoken word. In her work, the body is the starting point: a carrier of history, connection and future.

She explores themes such as diaspora, love and intergenerational heritage, creating sensory performances that address urgent social issues. In 2024, she received the BNG Bank Dance Prize for I Am My Ancestors’ Wildest Dream, part of POWER, a dance performance by Lloydscompany. She previously created the unveiling dance for the sculpture Moments Contained at Rotterdam Central Station, and in 2025 she created Sons of the Soil within Danslokaal 13 by Conny Janssen Danst.

Alongside her artistic practice, she works as Programmer Dance & Community at Theater Rotterdam, building bridges between makers, audiences and communities.

As City Choreographer, Sheree aims to set Rotterdam in motion, both on stage and throughout the city:
“My mission is to uplift, empower and transform the world through my art. Dance is a force that moves. That heals. That connects. A way for people to reconnect with themselves and with each other.”

Danshuis Rotterdam

Danshuis will become the largest dance hub in the Netherlands, open to all styles, all ages and all levels. Rotterdam dance companies, independent makers, dancers and visitors will find their home here. Danshuis is set to open in 2030.

“Dance belongs at the heart of our city. With the City Choreographer, we are creating a new model for how dance can become an integral part of urban life. This is only the beginning of what we hope will inspire cities around the world to experience the joy of dance,” says Laura Dufour of Danshuis.

Said Kasmi, Alderman for Culture: “I am proud that Rotterdam is the first city to appoint a City Choreographer. Together with Danshuis, we are helping the city flourish, creating spaces where Rotterdam residents and makers connect through dance and movement.”

Sheree Lenting by Michelle Urbiztondo