“THE UZUMÉ IS THE FUTURE, THE PAST AND THE PRESENT. WITH ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT, TIES TO REALITY AND GLIMPSES OF THE FUTURE, YOU’LL NEVER KNOW EXACTLY WHERE YOU ARE BUT YOU WON’T WANT TO LEAVE.” – Amy Sigil of UNMATA
Tjarda is a thoughtful and genuine dancer with a broad-minded curiosity towards fusing bellydance and well-known for her innovative and meaningful choreographies. Since 2005 she is the inventive force behind award-winning and charismatic troupe The Uzumé Dance Company and in 2010 she founded her second troupe The Amano Project. She has received several grants to expand her knowledge and to develop new projects. Her work is highly appreciated by renowned pioneers in the genre. Having a background in many genres of dance, ranging from modern, flamenco and tango to improvised movement and a natural creativity for fusing dance, makes Tjarda a widely recognized teacher and performer and sought after throughout Europe and the USA. She holds certifications for teaching and dance therapy and still studies continuously to broaden her education. Tjarda is currently studying at the New York Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies at Agape Centre Belgium to become a Certified Movement Analyst. Blurring lines and drawing  inspiration from even the most unlikely sources is the opening stance of all her choreographies and classes. Her work inspires many in finding their own path.
Tjarda is the producer of “Worlddance Con Fusion”, “Beyond Bellydance” and “Infusion Rendezvous”. In 2006 The Uzumé Dance Company wins the Global Open Stage Contest by RASA & Zimihc and tours several theatres in Holland and in 2007 they win first prize for Best Dance Company – Cross Over Choreography hosted by the LiteSide Festival in Holland. Tjarda receives a nomination by The National Institute of the Voluntary Arts for Most Promising Upcoming Choreographer with Exquisite Skills in 2008 and in the same year she also obtains a grant from the Performing Arts Fund NL for talented dancers to study in the US for 6 months. In 2009 she featured on Tales of Desire 2, a performance DVD produced by the Hollywood Music Center with the most influential tribal dancers of today. In the same year she created a beautiful duet with famous upright bass player Djordje Stijepovic (Fishtank Ensemble). Her 20-minute cross-over show “LIGHTS” from 2010 got supported with a grant from AFK and the LiteSide Festival for talented upcoming choreographers. Tjarda has been an honorary member of US-based troupe UNMATA for 5 years and she regularly teams up with other dancers in the business such as Samantha Emanuel, Anasma, Heather Stants, Kami Liddle and The Lady Fred.
“Tjarda, aside from being an inspiring choreographer and beautiful dancer, she has this amazing way of making everyone around her feel special. She is funny, kind and down to earth.”