About
In the captivating dance performance 'Oasis,' choreographer and dancer Denden Karadeniz invites audiences to reflect on their own oasis. Where do you find solace in this world, and can you truly be yourself? This exhilarating experience raises essential questions in a time of increasing social complexity, translated through a unique blend of diverse dance styles and backgrounds that converge into a highly physical movement vocabulary. Your own oasis is a vital space, as the freedom to express oneself seems to become more challenging in today’s world. In an age where constant connectivity often leads to division and individualism, we sometimes find ourselves at odds, avoiding meaningful dialogue, reacting defensively, and becoming embittered. Each person is unique, yet we all yearn to be ourselves in a safe and nurturing environment.




Meet the Team
Oasis cast 2024

Performer
Sophia Mason
Sophia Mason, another one of the original dancers of Zero, graduated from Fontys Contemporary Urban in 2016. Since then, she has evolved into a versatile dancer and choreographer, building an impressive career. Her versatility is reflected in her diverse collaborations across the industry. In 2017, she spent six months working with Keone and Mariel Madrid on the production SKY, and performed for the Royal House in a piece choreographed by Ed Wubbe. The following year, she spent a year working with Isabelle Beernaert on Tabula Rasa. Sophia’s journey with Zero began with its inaugural production The Divine Comedy in 2019, and she later joined DOX in 2020-2021 for ROLE MODELS. In addition to these artistic achievements, Sophia has also earned commercial credits, including performing twice for EUROVISIE and participating in DANCESING. In recent years, she has increasingly woven her passion for music and singing into her artistic practice. Sophia's deep passion for movement and music is evident in her work, as she integrates narrative and isolated movements with seamless flow and floorwork. She combines her musicality with her innate storytelling ability to craft powerful, emotionally rich performances, translating emotions into movement to enhance the impact of her choreography. Now, also as a contributor to the creative process, she has returned to Zero for OASIS.

Performer
Stasy Terehhova
Originally from Estonia, she embarked on her dance journey at the National Ballet Academy in Tallinn. This early training afforded her the exceptional opportunity to perform with the Estonian National Opera in various ballets from 2010 to 2014, including a distinguished tour to Venice, Italy, in 2012. In addition to her ballet training, she enjoyed a successful career in rhythmic gymnastics from 2005 to 2016, during which she secured multiple international titles and became a three-time Estonian National Champion. Her dance style organically merges floorwork, acrobatics, and flexibility in a highly physical manner, continually challenging the limits of her body’s capabilities. In 2017, at the age of 18, she relocated to the Netherlands to pursue her studies at Fontys Hogeschool voor de Kunsten (FHK) in Tilburg. Following her graduation, she performed in numerous theatre productions across Europe. Her journey with Zero began during an internship in 2020, and she has been training under the guidance of Denden since then. She was previously part of the maincast from Past Present Zero and has now rejoined the main cast of OASIS.

Performer
Rolf Kuijpers
Rolf began his dance training at the age of 7 in the Boys Action pre-education program in Groesbeek. He then progressed to the selection program at ArtEZ in Arnhem, where he continued his studies until the age of 20. In 2023, he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Dance Education from ArtEZ, building a solid technical foundation in Jazz, Ballet, Limón technique, and floorwork. Rolf is dedicated to refining his pedagogical skills at Boys Action, where he integrates breakdance, floorwork, modern dance, and acrobatics into his teaching and creative practice. Most recently, he performed in Terpsichore with Zero at the Grote Kerk in Alkmaar. In 2022, he was selected for Denden’s project Friction, collaborating with a select group of dancers. During his final year of study, Rolf completed an internship with Zero Dance Theatre, taking on a pivotal role in Past Present Zero. This year marks his first official tour with Zero as a cast member.

Performer
Melissa Damayanti
Melissa graduated from HBO Lucia Marthas in 2020, emerging as a versatile performer with strengths in dance, singing, and acting. She has successfully navigated various sectors of the industry, effortlessly transitioning between musical theater, commercial work, and theatrical productions. Between 2021 and 2024, her performance credits include Friction by Denden Karadeniz, Delusion by Oxygen, Keturunan by ART&, and the musicals Aida(2024) and Moulin Rouge (2025). In 2019, she first encountered the Zero style and method, and was immediately captivated by the combination of breaking and modern dance. Always eager to find greater physical challenges, particularly in combining strength and acrobatics within dance, she found watching Zero's premiere of The Divine Comedy to be a confirmation of what she had been seeking. It inspired her to pursue growth in this direction, with the ultimate goal of performing with Zero. Her training with Zero began in 2020, and after contributing as an understudy in Past Present Zero, she is now making her debut as a main cast member in OASIS.

Performer
Lola van Rumpt
Lola van Rumpt earned her Bachelor’s degree in Dance from the Lucia Marthas Institute for Performing Arts in 2022, specializing in contemporary dance and floorwork. Currently, she is engaged as a freelance dancer and choreographer, collaborating with Zero Dance Theatre. Her artistic practice centers on improvisation, contemporary flow, precise articulation, sensory exploration, and the pursuit of pushing creative boundaries. In 2024, Lola created her own performance, Busting Clouds, which debuted at the Delft Fringe Festival and continues to be performed throughout the season. She has also developed works for Kunstfestival FOAF and Museum Night 2022 in collaboration with Studio Meervaart and fashion designer Lea Elleman. As a performer, Lola took part in Sally’s production God is a DJ, directed by Stefan Ernst, with choreography by Emma Evelein, Michael Lubber, Winston Ricardo Arnon, and Stefan Ernst. She has also toured internationally with IID, showcasing They Never at the Blois Danse Festival and the duet Evelin, Are You Okay? at the Lugar Futuro Festival, both choreographed by Robin Kroes. She began her training with Zero in 2021, with Oasis marking her first significant tour.

Performer
Jan Schellekens
Introducing Jan (aka Dullart), a distinguished self-taught dancer with a profound dedication to the art of Breaking. As a member of BreakSquad, he has achieved national and international recognition, participating in prestigious events such as the Red Bull BC One lineup in 2019, 2022 and 2023 in the Netherlands, and undertaking several international tours. He is respected for his all-round bboy skills, seamlessly blending footwork, freezes, and power moves with effortless precision. These endeavors have solidified his standing within the breaking community, allowing him to showcase his talent on both intimate and grand stages. In 2023, Jan embarked on training and research with Zero Dance Theatre, seeking to refine his artistic practice by merging breaking with the foundational Zero approach. Since then, he has performed with Zero on two occasions, contributing to their distinctive creative vision. Jan is now part of the OASIS tour cast, marking his first official large-scale production with Zero and an exciting new chapter in his career.

Performer
Romee van de Meent
Romee van de Meent, one of the original dancers of Zero, embarked on her artistic journey at the Amsterdam University of the Arts, where she completed the Pre-Education 5 O’Clock Class from 2011 to 2015 and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Dance from HBO between 2015 and 2018. Following her formal education, she worked with renowned dance companies. From August 2018 to January 2020, Romee collaborated with Conny Janssen Danst in productions such as "BROOS" and "Danslokaal 6 & 7." Later, she joined the internationally acclaimed Humanhood Dance Company, where she performed in their productions "Infinite" and "Sphera" from July 2021 to April 2024. As a creative artist, Romee channels her unique strength into crafting physical narratives that express and embody both human and universal experiences. In addition to her dance career, Romee has become a deeply invested and trained yoga instructor, now working by her own methods. She aims to guide people on a journey of self-discovery, both on and off the mat, in and out of the studio, embracing a state of being present, conscious, and aware. Since joining Zero in 2018, she has been an integral part of productions such as The Divine Comedy and Past Present Zero, among others.

Performer
Thersa Bergmann
Thersa Bergmann received her training at the Dutch National Ballet Academy from 2009 to 2014, and subsequently pursued pre-education and a Bachelor’s degree at the Lucia Marthas Institute for Performing Arts from 2014 to 2021. Her professional experience includes performances in Danstheater AYA's production Yanasei and LIBI's Herfst, which was nominated for Best Performance by the Nederlands Theater Festival. Another highlight she marks is an Indonesian tour with ART& in the production Keturunan. With a background in gymnastics, Thersa is dedicated to exploring and integrating new dance styles that enhance her movement qualities, continually developing her authentic expression. Her early ballet and gymnastics training provided her with a strong work ethic and discipline. Her recent training with Denden and Zero has deepened her interest in floorwork. She is noted for her ability to combine explosiveness with fluidity, achieving a balance of softness and intensity that characterizes her movement as both powerful and graceful.

Performer - Intern
Floor Smits
Floor is a fourth-year Contemporary Urban Dance student at Fontys Dance Academy, where she is currently focused on mastering floorwork and exploring contemporary and street styles. Her training is fueled by a deep passion for dance and a commitment to keeping her artistic practice engaging. Having started training with Zero in 2023, she is excited to begin her first internship with the company in September 2024, which offers an open and experimental environment that allows her to push her physical limits. Before joining Zero, Floor gained valuable performance experience with CDK Company from 2022 to 2023, helping her enhance her movement skills and develop a calm stage presence. A standout moment in her academic journey was her end performance in 2023, choreographed by Denden at Fontys, where her growth and versatility were clearly showcased. Floor looks forward to continuing her development and exploring new artistic horizons with the inspiring team at Zero.
Credits
Choreography
Denden Karadeniz, in collaboration with the dancers
Performers
Sophia Mason
Stasy Terehhova
Rolf Kuijpers
Lola van Rumpt
Melissa Damayanti
Romee van de Meent
Jan Schellekens
Thersa Bergmann
Floor Smits
Light design
Mike den Ottolander
Technic
Menno Drost
Costumes
Arnold Put
Main Composer
Khalil Khoury
Music organisation
Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra
Songlist
Rose
Qanun: Khalil Khoury
Ney: Sukru Kirtis
Aura
Oud: Khalil Khoury
Scream
Mercan Dede
Quicksand
Composition/Production: Khalil Khoury & Ruven Ruppik
Qanun: Khalil Khoury
Dernière volonté
Le Trio Joubran, Chkrrr
AMS
Martin Kohlstedt
CHA
Martin Kohlstedt
Rise
Composition/Production: Khalil Khoury
Percussion: Ruven Ruppik
Viola: Hessel Moeselaar
Violin: Jenna Barghouti
Vocals: Salah Mesbah
Ney: Sukru Kirtis
Qanun & Oud: Khalil Khoury
Mixing and Mastering
Khalil Khoury (Rose, Aura, Quicksand, Folk)
Production
Eva Hermus, Floor van der Sluis
Marketing
Devon Suriya
Rehearsal Space
Juvat Performing Arts Studios
Chassé Dance Studios
Het Motorblok
Videography(Teaser)
Jarah Gartner
Videography(Trailer)
Hessel van den Hoek
Photography(Poster images)
Juvat Westendorp
Photography(Portrets)
Tamar Aten
Photography(Show)
Sjoerd Derine
Partners
Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra
ISH Dance Collective
Theater Meervaart
Zaantheater
Event Support Drost
Capture This Agency
Funding
Cultuurfonds
AFK
FPK
Fonds 21
Gemeente Alkmaar
Zero Dance Foundation
Choreographer
Denden Karadeniz
In 2018, Denden founded the Netherlands' first urban contemporary dance company, Zero Dance Theatre. His debut work with the company, The Divine Comedy (2018-2019), was followed by Past Present Zero (2021-2022). Zero Dance Theatre brings together dancers from diverse backgrounds, creating a highly physical and distinct movement language. Denden is particularly renowned for his exceptional floorwork technique, which he teaches internationally.
Denden Karadeniz started breakdancing at the age of nine and quickly began competing in battles. His passion for dance led him to explore a variety of styles, and he soon gained national recognition through his appearances on The Ultimate Dance Battle and So You Think You Can Dance in 2012.
After completing his dance education, Denden worked with several modern and hip-hop dance companies both in the Netherlands and abroad. His experiences in Australia and Los Angeles helped him develop a unique blend of breakdance and contemporary dance.

Full Tourlist
04/10 - Amsterdam
05/10 - Amsterdam
17/10 - Oosterhout
18/10 - Hoorn
24/10 - Drachten
26/10 - Hengelo
29/10 - Amsterdam
30/10 - Nieuwegein
01/11 - Nijmegen
02/11 - Sittard-Geleen
06/11 - Rotterdam
08/11 - Hoofddorp
09/11 - Alkmaar
14/11 - De Meern
20/11 - Helmond
21/11 - Amsterdam
22/11 - Amsterdam
27/11 - Utrecht
28/11 - Zaandam
29/11 - Amstelveen
07/12 - Wijchen
11/12 - Leiden
12/12 - Haarlem
13/12 - Den Bosch
20/12 - Amsterdam
Powered by


%20SHOTSBYJUV_liggend-lowres.jpg)