Jolanda
Before I tell you something about myself, I would actually much rather know who you are. Not only what you hope to achieve through movement, although that matters too, but above all what brings you joy and where you come from. For one person, that may be a stronger body or greater flexibility; for another, it may simply be the pleasure of moving together and the feeling of coming home when they enter the studio. Both are equally valuable to me, and I hope you feel that from the moment you walk through the door.
So, to tell you a little about myself, I’d like to begin with what has made me happiest ever since I was young: dancing. At the age of six, I stood at the ballet barre for the first time at Ballet Studio Kennemerland. Sonja and Marina Koster, and later Nicole van Balen, gave me a foundation that has stayed with me ever since. When Nicole founded her own Dance and Ballet Company, I went with her and taught my first classes there.
My decision to make dance my profession led me to the Rotterdam Dance Academy and Utrecht University, where I studied Theatre, Film and Television Studies, specialising in dance and dramaturgy. As a performing dancer, I moved between art and entertainment, appearing in stage productions, arthouse films and show productions. That combination has always appealed to me: the refinement of dance as an art form and the immediate joy of dance as entertainment.
During my studies, I immersed myself in dance history and different dance traditions. I also wrote about theatre, dance and visual art for the arts desk of the Haarlems Dagblad. This combination of research, observation and writing deepened my perspective on movement. Later, drawing on historical research, I also reconstructed the original dances of Mata Hari, which I performed and taught in workshops.
Photography: Hüsne Afsar
This search for the source continues to play an important role in my work. Whether it is Pilates, Barre or Belly Dance, I want to understand how a form of movement originated and how it was originally practised. This helps me stay close to its essence and pass it on in a way that is clear, alive and accessible, while still leaving room for something new and personal.
Dansstudio
In 2003, I opened Dansstudio Raniya at what was then Cultureel Centrum de Egelantier. In 2013, De Kinderdansschool followed. Since 2016, the studio has been based at Cultuurhuis Klein Heiligpand.
For me, teaching has never been only about passing on steps or exercises. Creating a warm and inspiring environment where people feel seen and are given the time to develop is just as important.
Over the years, I have created many performances and full-length productions with my students. I have always found these shared projects very special—not only because of the performance itself, but above all because of the connection that developed along the way: working towards something together, watching one another grow, sharing the stage and celebrating the final result.
Pilates
I first encountered Pilates while studying at the dance academy. Years later, I began to specialise more deeply in the method. I completed my Pilates Teacher Training and continued my education with inspiring teachers from the international Pilates community, including Lolita San Miguel, who was personally certified by Joseph Pilates.
In my Pilates classes, I work with Joseph Pilates’ original method and with the way it was further developed by his direct students, often referred to as the Pilates Elders. This approach is also known as Classical Pilates.
What appeals to me is its clear and carefully considered structure. The body is approached as a whole. You do not simply train individual muscles; you also develop coordination, concentration, breathing, control and body awareness.
In class, you learn to understand and perform the exercises step by step. The aim is not to reach a difficult form as quickly as possible, but to become increasingly aware of how you move. In this way, you develop a strong and conscious foundation that you can carry with you beyond the studio.
Barre
Barre brought me back to where my own journey in dance began: at the ballet barre. At the same time, Barre is not a classical ballet class. It is an energetic and accessible form of movement that brings together posture, control, muscular strength and enjoyment.
My knowledge of the origins and development of Barre, together with my background in ballet, dance and Pilates, forms the foundation of my Barre classes. This allows the classes to be carefully and technically structured. You work on strength, balance, flexibility and posture, without needing any previous ballet or dance experience.
What makes Barre so special is the way it combines elegance with training. Your body is challenged in a focused way, while music and rhythm bring additional energy to the movement. After class, your body often feels more awake, stronger and more alert.
Belly Dance
As a child, I saw belly dancer Yonina on television and immediately knew: that is how I want to dance. There were no belly dance classes nearby at the time, but the seed had been planted. Belly Dance crossed my path again in my teenage years, and I began to explore this rich and expressive dance form in greater depth.
After taking my first classes in the Netherlands, I travelled to countries including Egypt and Turkey to train with leading teachers, dancers and choreographers. Under the stage name Raniya, I worked as a belly dancer for many years, performing in the Netherlands and abroad, in theatres, at festivals, cultural events and celebrations.
Belly Dance can be powerful and refined, earthy and elegant, personal and festive all at once. In my classes, I share this richness in a way that is accessible and respectful. You learn to move your body with increasing detail while also experiencing the musicality, expression and joy of this dance form. The classes are rooted in tradition, yet feel alive and contemporary.
Read more about my background in Belly Dance.
Body Joy Studio
At Body Joy Studio, Pilates, Barre and Belly Dance come together. Three forms of movement that may seem very different, yet complement one another naturally. Pilates gives you a strong and conscious foundation. Barre brings energy, elegance and focus, while Belly Dance invites expression, musicality and freedom. Together, they help you get to know your body more deeply and move with greater enjoyment.
Everything I have learned, researched and experienced over the years finds its way into my classes. I would love to help you become stronger, more flexible and more energetic, while also feeling at home in your body as it is today.
Come as you are and discover what movement can mean for you. I look forward to welcoming you to the studio.