"The best thing about teaching salsa is seeing people dance for the first time”, Boukje says. “All those radiant faces around me when they discover how much joy it can bring! When I dance I let myself go completely, forget everything. I can be one with myself, the music, the movements and my dance partner. It brings so much joy and relaxation. It’s my medicine after a bad day. In short, salsa equals fun!"

"That’s also the main message of the Just Jason dance school, and Jason himself really hammers that message home in his classes. That really appeals to me. Ever since my first lesson at his school, nothing can keep me away. I now help Jason to spread his philosophy and I teach classes myself. Together we not only give regular classes and training, but we’re also working with two show teams. How great is that?"

A kind of 'company doctor'

"Since I graduated in 2018, I’ve been working as a doctor in the Department of Social Medical Affairs at the UWV, the public employment agency. I enjoy the work so much that I’m now training to specialise as an insurance doctor. I always explain my job like this: I’m a kind of ‘company doctor’ for people who no longer have an employer. In other words, I provide guidance for sick unemployed people. I advise on treatment, initiate medical interventions and guide people towards reintegration in the workforce, sometimes with modified duties."

"The nice thing about my job is that I can give clients quite a lot of time, so I can have in-depth consultations with them and look beyond the illness. I learn how the disorder affects their social life and vice versa, so I can also give advice on personal matters. Clients often find this pleasant and validating."

"My work is very dynamic. I see all sorts of syndromes: from psychological and neurological disorders to gynaecological diseases, and everything in between. Some disorders are quite rare. Another nice thing about my job is that my employer offers a good work–life balance and lots of flexibility, which leaves me enough time for my hobbies, such as salsa dancing!"

House with a big veranda

"In 10 years I hope to still be working in social medicine. I’d like to be able to teach colleagues about the social side of illnesses, to encourage them to put the person themselves at the centre of the prevention or treatment. I also hope to still be spreading a lot of salsa love and joy. I want to spark people’s enthusiasm and show them how much pleasure they can get out of salsa."

"Where will I live in the future? I don’t mind, as long as I can keep on dancing. But if I could choose, I hope to have a house with my partner on the edge of a forest or nature area, preferably with a big veranda!"

Text: Milou Schreuders