In this interview series, we offer a glimpse behind the scenes of the dance world, where passion, ambitions, and challenges converge. Today, we share the story of Jasmijn and Ciccio, a dance couple who intertwine love, loss, and top-level sport. From their first dance steps as teenagers in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen to becoming six-time Dutch ballroom dance champions — their journey is one of perseverance, self-direction, and deep connection. With a self-choreographed show dance, they process a profound personal loss, and as coaches, they are committed to a dance world where respect, autonomy, and well-being are central.
By Ika Berman
What connects them is not only their love for each other, but also a deep passion for dance.
Love in patent leather shoes
“I’m Jasmijn, 37 now,” she begins with a smile. “And I’m Ciccio, 36,” he adds. Though, saying it out loud suddenly makes Ciccio feel very old, and together they laugh, as they often do during this interview. What connects them isn’t just their love for each other, but also a deep passion for dance.
A Journey from Hobby to Championships
They met as teenagers in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen and started taking dance lessons together. “It was sort of a mandatory upbringing,” jokes Ciccio. He still remembers his mother coming home with a pair of patent leather dance shoes: “Look, nice shiny shoes!” he recalls. “Are you crazy?!” he thought. Yet those shoes turned out to be just right for his future ballroom career.
Gradually, social dancing turned into a competitive sport. “We entered a competition every now and then, and before you know it, you’re taking private lessons and looking for a coach,” Jasmijn explains.
From 2007 onward, they took part in national competitions, followed strict training regimes, and received intensive coaching. In 2010, they reached the finals of the Dutch Championships, and from 2014 on, they became six-time Dutch ballroom champions — four times as amateurs and twice as professionals.
“Ballroom is the penguin suit discipline,” Ciccio explains. “Tightly dressed in a tux, and Jasmijn in a dress covered in stones. Glamorous, chic. Unlike the Latin style, which is shorter and more revealing.”
They tried Latin, but their hearts lay with the five classic ballroom dances: the English Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Slow Foxtrot, and Quickstep.
“Out there on the floor, it’s like laying your soul bare.”
A dance as therapy
Their path in dance changed after a personal tragedy. In 2022, they lost their twins during pregnancy. “We wanted to do something with that, in our own way,” Jasmijn shares. Dance became their way of processing grief, and thus their show dance ballroom project was born — a literal and figurative expression of their story.
“It wasn’t a competition idea, it was our idea,” says Ciccio. They chose music, found a choreographer, and created a dance about loss, chaos, but also hope. Jasmijn explains, “Because if the twins had been born, we likely wouldn’t have known our son Noah.”
They combined piano music with the sound of a heartbeat and ultrasound echoes. “It became something very personal.” “You step onto the floor and basically share your soul,” they add.
Coaching and social safety
“That we always took the lead ourselves,” Ciccio says when asked about their strength. In the dance world, you choose your own coach and trainer. They deliberately searched: where do we feel comfortable, who suits us? They found their regular coach in Belgium — someone who didn’t just tell them what to do, but asked: why do you think that? What fits you?
In their own coaching role, they treat new couples the same way: “We don’t say: this is your choreography. We ask: what do you feel, what suits you?” In doing so, they stimulate both technical development and mental resilience.
Although they haven’t experienced any extreme cases of misconduct, which are unfortunately common in the dance world, they did create their own sense of social safety. “We were lucky to meet our current coach early on. But we also made conscious choices. And maybe also said no to a lot,” Jasmijn reflects. “We wanted to do it our way — not under a trainer who only wanted to impose their vision.”
“When you go through perfectionism, injuries, and loss together, you build something truly strong.”
Health and the future
Jasmijn is open about her struggle with an eating disorder: “I was a shy girl, and in the dance world, I had formed an ideal image in my head. Eating less suddenly led to better results. It went very far.” She sought help and therapy and now warns her students: “If I see someone going too far, I say: watch out. Health comes first.”
Dance is the foundation of their relationship: “We’re partners in everything,” says Ciccio. “If you face perfectionism together, injuries, loss… then you build something really strong.” They secretly hope their children will follow in their dance steps. “Our daughter is already doing modern-dance-like moves,” Jasmijn laughs. “Our son? He only walks around with a soccer ball. But who knows!”
“Dance is not just a sport or an art form; it’s a way of life — and sometimes, a way to heal.”
Looking ahead, Jasmijn wants to stay close to home and coach couples in the Netherlands. Ciccio aspires to be an international judge: “Our generation of colleagues is now organizing competitions themselves. I’d love to stay active in that network.”
Together, they give workshops, coach couples, and build a community based on respect, autonomy, and joy. “We want no couple to feel like they belong to us. They belong to themselves. We just help guide them when needed.”
They may not be on the dance floor as often anymore, but the fire still burns. “This show dance isn’t the end. Maybe there’s one last dance still to come — but then, of course, in our own way,” says Ciccio.
Their message? “Dance is not just a sport or an art form; it’s a way of life — and sometimes, a way to heal.”
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