Rhythm and Passion in Wijdewormer and Beyond
If there's one thing that gets me excited, it's the energy currently flowing through Almere. In my thirty years in the dance world, I've learned that rhythm isn't just found on the dance floor. You see it in the way a striker outplays a defender, in the precision of a figure skating jump, and in the passion of young talents chasing their dreams. Today, on Monday, January 26, 2026, everything comes together in a special sports evening where Almere City FC crosses swords with Jong AZ in Wijdewormer.
The match started explosively. After just ten minutes, Almere City faced a deficit due to a goal by Wassim Bouzziane, following a mistake in the buildup. But you know what the beauty of top-class sport is? Resilience. Exactly three minutes later, it was Ferdy Druijf who fired in the equalizer: 1-1. It's that kind of quick footwork and responsiveness that I, as a dancer, watch with a smile. It's about timing, about sensing the space, and about the courage to strike when the moment is there. In a live report from Omroep Flevoland we see how Jeroen Rijsdijk's team, who is incidentally struggling with a severe flu, tries to secure their seventh consecutive victory.
The Dance on the Ice: Niki Wories Shines Again
While the men in Wijdewormer fly across the grass, another top athlete from Almere has made history in Tilburg. Niki Wories became the Dutch figure skating champion for the eighth time yesterday. With a score of 152.35 points at the Challenge Cup/NK, she showed that she is still the undisputed queen of the ice. To me, figure skating is basically just dancing on a very slippery floor. The way she builds her routine, the emotion in her face, and the technical perfection of her rotations; that is pure art.
Niki has traveled a turbulent path. After a break in her career and a period as a manager at the KNSB, she found her way back to the ice. That passion cannot be ignored. In my own practice at Miss Salsa, I often see this: people who stop for a while, but never really lose the rhythm. It's in your blood. The fact that Niki is now performing at this level again is an inspiration to anyone who thinks a comeback is impossible. She is now setting her sights on the World Championships in Boston and the Olympic Games in Milan in 2026. That's the focus you need to reach the top, whether you're dancing a salsa show or jumping a triple axel.
Caribbean Roots and International Talent
What really touches me as an expert with a heart for Latin American culture is the news about the youth academy of Almere City FC. Five young talents have been invited to national teams in the Caribbean. Dean Dipotaroeno, Jairo Burke, and Jahmairo Wartes are leaving for Suriname Under-17, Max Obispo will play for Aruba, and Timothy Muller has been called up for Bonaire Under-20. They will soon compete in World Cup qualifying matches in South America.
This is where sport and culture meet. These boys were born in the Netherlands, but they carry the rhythm of their roots with them. You see that reflected in their game: a certain flair, a suppleness often seen in players with a Caribbean background. It's no coincidence that a multicultural club like Almere City produces this kind of talent. At Miss Salsa, we know better than anyone how influences from Suriname, Aruba, and the Antilles enrich our dance floor. That these boys are now allowed to represent their homeland on the world stage is a wonderful recognition of their hard work and their heritage.
Footwork: The Common Denominator
People sometimes ask me: "Vanessa, what does football have to do with dancing?" Actually, everything. Look at the lineup of Almere City against Jong AZ, which we could see via Club BetCity. Players like Junior Kadile must be able to turn lightning-fast, make feints, and maintain their balance under pressure. That is exactly what we do in a fast Salsa shines session. The coordination between your brain and your feet must be flawless.
In practice, this means that a footballer can benefit from the rhythmic training of a dancer, and vice versa. The spatial orientation that Niki Wories needs on the ice to avoid becoming disoriented after a jump is comparable to the focus of a dancer during a series of pirouettes. It is all movement, passion, and technique.
Administrative Changes and the City of Almere
A lot is happening behind the scenes too. Lesley Bamberger, the man who made Almere City great before selling the club to the Japanese company Yanmar at the end of 2025, has now been nominated as chairman of the Supervisory Board at Ajax. Bamberger is a well-known name in the Amsterdam real estate world and also the father-in-law of Steven Berghuis. It's interesting to see how the lines between Almere and Amsterdam are becoming shorter and shorter.
Almere is growing and flourishing. Whether it's the business successes of people like Bamberger, the sporting achievements of Niki Wories, or the talents on the football field of Jong AZ and Almere City; the city shows that it counts. For me as an entrepreneur in the dance world, this is a wonderful climate to work in. There is an enormous drive to perform and, at the same time, a strong connection with the diverse cultures that enrich our city.
As the evening in Wijdewormer progresses and the Almere City players fight for that seventh victory, I realize once again how privileged we are with so much talent in our region. From the ice rink in Tilburg to the football fields in North Holland; the rhythm of Almere is audible everywhere. And believe me, that rhythm is only going to sound louder in the coming time.