
Brandon O’Dell Appointed as New Executive Director of Omscholing Dansers Nederland and Sociaal Fonds Podiumkunsten
Effective March 1, 2024, Brandon O’Dell has been appointed as the Executive Director of the implementation organization overseeing the Omscholing Dansers Nederland Scheme and the Sociaal Fonds Podiumkunsten. He succeeds Paul Bronkhorst, who has been associated with Omscholing Dansers Nederland since 1986. In late 2023, Paul announced his decision to step aside, approaching his retirement after nearly four decades of dedicated service to and with dancers.
Additionally, as of January 1, 2024, the Omscholing Dansers Nederland Scheme and the Sociaal Fonds Podiumkunsten have merged. The most significant change pertains to the governance structure of the implementation organization. Both schemes will continue to exist independently in their current forms. The statutory name of the new organization is the Foundation for Education, Retraining, and Development in the Performing Arts.
Regarding his decision, Paul Bronkhorst stated, “In the past 38 years, I have been involved in various roles with the Omscholing Dansers Nederland Scheme, the last ten years as the director. Leaving it behind now is a significant moment. I have always felt deeply connected to the scheme and, more importantly, to the people for whom the scheme was created. I look back with great pleasure on all those years and feel a sense of pride when I see what stands today.”
“The merger is a good time for me to focus on other matters, and I confidently pass the torch to Brandon. I am convinced that it is good for renewal to take place. I have full confidence that Brandon, as the new Executive Director, can bring fresh enthusiasm to tackle the challenges of advancing the Foundation for Education, Retraining, and Development in the Performing Arts in the Netherlands.”
Brandon O’Dell has been the director of the Amsterdam Dinner Foundation since 2019, an organization committed to eradicating AIDS worldwide. Prior to that, he served at the Joep Lange Institute and the Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development. Brandon is familiar with the Omscholing Dansers Nederland Scheme, having worked as a dancer in Washington DC and New York City before coming to the Netherlands in 2001. He continued his career in the Netherlands, dancing with Dance Works Rotterdam and Scapino Ballet Rotterdam. In 2011, with the support of ODN, he concluded his dance career to develop his academic skills, earning a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the renowned University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom in 2013.
Reflecting on his transition to the new organization, Brandon O’Dell stated, “It is an honor for me to take the lead in managing these two vital schemes. Through the merger, both funds will become even stronger and more innovative. This will not only enable us to serve more people in the performing arts but also provide better opportunities for retraining and lifelong learning. From my own experience, I understand how crucial this support is during a retraining journey. The Netherlands can be proud of these two unique and innovative funds. Together with the sector, we ensure that ODN and SFPK continue to inspire and support individuals in their careers and developmental processes.”
The Omscholing Dansers Nederland Scheme is an employment benefit provided by NAPK and Kunstenbond for dancers in the Netherlands, aiding them in transitioning to a second career since 1986.
Sociaal Fonds Podiumkunsten contributes to the employability and mobility of all employees in the performing arts job market. It also supports affiliated social partners in formulating good employment conditions and negotiating collective agreements.
For more information visit https://www.omscholingdansers.nl/en/
Brandon O’Dell credit Elske Nissen