Interview with ECD-student Sem Houmes

Interview with ECD student Sem Houmes

Fourth-year Expanded Contemporary Dance student Sem Houmes has been working with the Italian-based dance company KOMOCO since June 22, 2025. We asked Sem a few questions.

You work at KOMOCO for the entire season. What happens during a season?
Komoco is a freelance dance company. This season, we are touring the piece "PUPO" in various countries around the world and are creating the new piece "CHORA," which will premiere in February 2026. “CHORA” is being created by our artistic director, Sofia Nappi, in collaboration with the company's dancers. This piece will also tour internationally.

What are the challenges of your projects?
Komoco has developed its own research and movement language, which creates a beautiful unity among all the company's dancers. This was a challenge at first because it was new to my body, but now it's very valuable, and I'm learning a lot from it.

What aspects of your work inspire you and why?
The greatest inspiration in my work is my colleagues. Everyone has something unique, and this allows you to continue learning from each other. We work a lot with improvisation, and this truly surprises and inspires me every day. This also makes the work incredibly interesting, because you can continue to explore and innovate yourself and your movements. Every single day.

What are you most looking forward to?
I'm most looking forward to touring. This will be my first tour with a professional dance company. I'm excited to travel to many beautiful places around the world and share our art with people.

Where and when are the performances?
In November, we're traveling to Montreal, Canada, to perform "PUPO." It's quite a distance from the Netherlands, but we'll also be performing it a few times in Germany at the end of November.

November 25: Leverkusen, Germany
November 27: Remscheid, Germany
November 30: Regensburg, Germany

The performance "CHORA" will premiere in February in Winterthur, Switzerland.