After her study Dance Movement Therapy at Hogeschool Zuyd, Simone continued her study at the teachers department at Codarts, Rotterdam to expand her passion for dance.
Simone discovered her interest in African Contemporary and traditional dance and decided to travel to Senegal. In 2009, she joined the internship ‘A new step’ conducted by Germaine Acogny, at l’Ecole des Sables, Toubab Dialaw. In 2011 Simone continued her studies in African dances at EDIT (Ecole de Danse Irène Tassembédo, EDIT) conducted by Irène Tassembédo in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Worldwide Simone performed, trained and worked with well known choreographers in African Contemporary dance like: Irène Tassembédo, Katina Genero, Merlin Nyakam, Tebby W.T. Ramasike, George Momboye and Gerard Diby. And works on different dance projects and productions in the Netherlands, Europe and Africa.
A brief overview of performances in Africa and Europe:
– ‘Régard’ by Serge Koffi at Marché des Arts Africaine (MASA) festival Abidjan, Ivory Coast – March 2014
– ‘Je ne suis pas une poupée’ solo Simone Heijloo at Festival International de Danse de Ouagadougou (FIDO), Burkina Faso – January 2016
– ‘Danse Estreme’ by Katina Genero at Spazio Baobab festival, Italy – June 2016
– ‘RODÉ – Home without borders’ by Simone Heijloo in collaboration with Meervaart Theater, Amsterdam – sold out première – June 2018
– ‘Rien n’est plus beau que la vérité’ by Seny Kama and Simone Heijloo in collaboration with Centre Culturel Blaise Senghor, Dakar, Senegal – January 2019
– YONN BI’ by Seny Kama and Simone Heijloo – January 2022
– ‘RISE’ by Tebby W.T. Ramasike in collaboration with Meervaart Theater, Amsterdam – June 2023
– ‘L’ U L’A’ by Simone Heijloo in collaboration with Meervaart Theater, Amsterdam – June 2023
– ‘Still Here…’ by Simone Heijloo at ISH Open Stage, Amsterdam – May 2024
– ‘RISE…’ by Tebby W.T. Ramasike during Festival NavigArte, Pisa, Italy – October 2025
– ‘Bird’ by Simone Heijloo during Amsterdams Buurtfilm festival, OBA, Amsterdam – February 2026
– ‘Still Here…’ at Festival NavigArte, Pisa, Italy – October 2026
Next to African Contemporary dance, Simone also teaches Contemporay dance, toddler dance, Music and Dance for kids and ballet for kids.
Simone teaches all ages and loves sharing her passion for dance at Aslan Muziekcentrum, ISH, Codarts, Fontys, Dance Connects, Stichting Granate and many other beautiful places.
So everyone, young and old, can move and experience the joy of dancing!
