"I started to understand that this wasn’t just something I enjoyed, but something I wanted to dedicate my life to".
I am an actor from Curaçao. I recently graduated from MBO Theaterschool Rotterdam and end of August I will begin my studies at the Amsterdam University of the Arts (Amsterdamse Hogeschool voor de Kunsten).
When I look back on my journey, Elisa Academy is one of the first places that comes to mind. I always enjoyed being on stage but Elisa Academy was the place where theater became something real for me. It was my first introduction to theater on a professional level. It was where I learned what it truly means to be an actor, and where I started to understand that this wasn’t just something I enjoyed, but something I wanted to dedicate my life to.
One thing the Academy taught me from the very beginning was discipline: being on time, respecting your fellow actors, being prepared and understanding that theater is about working together. Those may seem like small things, but they’re the foundation of this profession. They’re lessons I still carry with me today, both in school and on professional productions.
What made my experience even more special was that I belonged to the very first group of students. We weren’t joining something that had existed for years, we were building it together. We experienced Elisa Academy from the very beginning and watched it grow step by step. And I remember that there weren’t always many resources. Sometimes things had to be figured out along the way, but somehow Richailine (our teacher and founder) always found a way to make it work.
Looking back, I admire that even more now. She never let limitations get in the way of creating opportunities for us. Instead of focusing on what wasn’t there, she focused on what was possible. As students, we benefited from that every single week. Another thing I’ll always appreciate is how available Richailine has remained, even after we graduated. Whenever I have questions, need advice, or simply want to ask her opinion about something, I know I can reach out to her. Knowing that there’s someone back home who continues to support you, even after you’ve left, means more than people probably realize.
Because we started this journey together, we also became incredibly close. At some point, Elisa Academy stopped feeling like a school and started feeling like family. Even today, many of us from that first group live in the Netherlands. We don’t speak every day, but whenever we meet, it feels as if no time has passed. We all share the same love for theater, and I think going through those first years together created a bond that will always stay with us.
One of the biggest turning points for me at Elisa Academy was discovering what kind of artist I wanted to become. During the program we explored many different sides of theater. We had physical theater, worked with guest teachers and experienced different approaches to performing. Every block introduced us to something new, giving us the opportunity to experiment and discover what suited us.
For me, that’s where everything became clear.
Before then, I knew I loved the arts, but I wasn’t completely sure what my path will look like. Through all those different experiences at Elisa Academy, I realized that acting was thé thing that excited me the most. Whether it’s theater or film, telling stories is what I want to do.
Elisa Academy also made studying in the Netherlands feel possible.
Before that, I honestly had no idea where to start. I knew I wanted to continue growing, but I didn’t know what opportunities existed or how people even got accepted into theater schools abroad. I still remember the information evening Elisa Academy organized about studying in the Netherlands. We learned about the different schools, how auditions worked and what the possibilities were. I walked into that evening curious, but I walked out thinking, “Maybe I can actually do this.” That evening changed a lot for me.
In April 2024, Richailine traveled with me to the Netherlands for my auditions. Having her there meant a lot because she had been part of my journey from the very beginning. I auditioned for MBO Theaterschool Rotterdam and another theater school and I was fortunate enough to be accepted into both. I eventually chose MBO Theaterschool Rotterdam. Although the program normally takes three years, I completed it in two and graduated in July 2026! End of this month, I will begin my next chapter at the Amsterdam University of the Arts, where I’m looking forward to challenging myself even further and continuing to grow as an actor.
Since moving to the Netherlands, I’ve learned so much. I’ve worked on different productions, both within and outside of school, and I’ve also had the opportunity to return to Curaçao twice to perform in projects back home. Every experience has taught me something new and has helped shape me, not only as an actor but also as a person. Now I’m looking forward to what comes next. I know studying at the Amsterdam University of the Arts will be more intensive and will challenge me in new ways, but that’s exactly what I’m excited about. Every new environment teaches you something different and I can’t wait to continue learning and discovering more about myself and this profession.
When I think about Elisa Academy today, I don’t just think about the classes or the performances. I think about the people. I think about the friendships, the late rehearsals, the moments we laughed together, the moments we struggled together and the feeling that
We were all building something bigger than ourselves.
For me, Elisa Academy is the place where my passion for performing became a clear direction. It gave me my first real understanding of what it means to work in theater, introduced me to possibilities I hadn’t considered before and gave me the confidence to take the next step.
For all of that, I'll always be grateful.
Love,
Alumni Reflection #2