The first time you see a beautiful dance, a dancing body, the desire may emerge — you may never be free from this desire. I used to take a book from the library with poetic photographs of the dancer Christopher Gable. Then I saw the beauty of Netherlands Dans Theater dance, in Melbourne. An image of Euro high-art dance, sleek, elite, spare theatre, the beauty of body — this has never left me.
Pierrot has always been present, a fragile guide. The choreographer Glen Tetley said to me once Christopher Gable was his ideal Pierrot. However, he gave the role first to Jaap Flier. I did not know how many links there were between these things. I only knew that somehow I should gravitate towards Jaap and see what might happen. He was the first Pierrot. Would it be possible to enter his orbit? And to be under the wing of Willy de la Bye. To be nurtured as in no other family?