From 4-18 August, the fifth Countertechnique Teacher Training (CTTT) took place in Amsterdam. Due to global travel restrictions, the event was of a smaller scale than planned, as it could only be attended by participants living in Europe. Despite the challenging circumstances, all aspiring teachers passed their final exams to become certified Countertechnique Teachers. Congratulations to Ema Yuasa, Kelly Hirina, Marina Bilterijst and Tim Volleman!

Ema Yuasa has been a professional dancer since 2002. After her graduation, she danced with the Dresden Ballet in Germany and L’Opera de Nice in France before joining Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT) from 2004-2015. Currently a freelancer, she worked since 2016 amongst others with Mats Ek and Sasha Waltz at the Royal Swedish Ballet and with Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui at his company Eastman.

Kelly Hirina has been a professional dancer since 1999. During her extensive career as a freelance dancer, she worked with a wide range of choreographers and directors, including Jakop Ahlbom, Krisztina de Châtel, and most recently ICK Amsterdam (Emio Greco / Pieter Scholten). She acquired her M.F.A. Dance from the University of Michigan, and has been a certified Double Skin/Double Mind instructor from 2017.

Marina Bilterijst has been a professional dancer since 2013. After an apprenticeship at Scapino Ballet Rotterdam, Marina lived in New York from 2013-2017, working with Nimbus Dance Works, Gallim Dance and many others. Since 2017, Marina is a company dancer with De Châtel Sur Plâce in Amsterdam, directed by chorographer Krisztina de Châtel.

Tim Volleman has been a professional dancer since 2011. After his graduation, he danced with various companies including Nederlands Dans Theater II, Cathy Sharp Dance Ensemble and dance company De Stilte. Since 2017, he works in the United Kingdom as a dancer with the National Dance Company of Wales.