ADE director Mariana Sanchotene leaves role
Mariana Sanchotene, the director of electronic music conference and festival Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), is leaving her position after one year in the role.
Sanchotene, who led the 24th edition of ADE in October this year, will depart from the ADE Foundation on 6 December.
Prior to becoming ADE director in October 2018, Sanchotene worked for Dutch electronic music promoter ID&T, Cirque du Soleil and Stage Entertainment, and now plans to continue her career in the cultural sector.
“This has been a special year, where we have worked hard to give ADE the place in the creative sector that it now has and deserves,” says Sanchotene. “I am very proud of it”.
“We are indebted to Mariana Sanchotene for her full dedication to ADE”
Willemijn Maas, chairman of the ADE Foundation supervisory board, comments: “We are indebted to Mariana Sanchotene for her full dedication to ADE. We wish her every success in her further career.”
The board is now looking for a successor to lead the event, which became independent in last year.
The 25th edition of Amsterdam Dance Event will take place from Wednesday 21 to Sunday 25 October 2020, organised by ADE Foundation founding partner, Buma, with support from the municipality of Amsterdam and VSB Fonds.
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‘A space of music discovery’: New ADE boss talks first year
The 24th edition of Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) will take place under new leadership, as director Mariana Sanchotene looks to boost daytime offerings, incorporate different art forms and explore the crossover between music and technology.
From 16 to 20 October, ADE festival and conference will take over the concert halls, clubs, and theatres of the Dutch capital. More than 2,500 artists and 600 speakers are expected to take part in the event.
“ADE is massive, it really is mind blowing to be in charge,” Sanchotene tells IQ ahead of her first year leading the event. “The planning is going well so far and it is looking like we will have a strong programme this year.”
The festival recently released its second wave of artists, with DJs Avalon Emerson, Peggy Gou and Carl Craig joining previously announced acts Martin Garrix, the Black Madonna, New Order, Carl Cox and Helena Hauff.
A record 400,000 people attended ADE last year, but Sanchotene states the event has no ambition for growing attendance further.
“We are staying with the same number of venues [140] as last year and expect to match attendance,” says the ADE boss, explaining that the city of Amsterdam is “overwhelmed” by visitors as it is.
“My advice to anyone attending ADE is to experiment with new artists”
“The focus is on increasing artistic quality and on growing the day programme in particular to showcase the crossover between electronic music and different cultural forms such as the visual and performing arts,” explains Sanchotene.
The crossover between different musical styles is important for the ADE director too, who believes that people are “more curious” these days and more likely to deviate from what they know.
“My advice to anyone attending ADE is to experiment with new artists. Don’t just go for the usual suspects, really dig into what new talent is on offer,” Sanchotene tells IQ. “ADE is a space of music discovery – I am very much looking forward to seeing how all the acts turn out.”
The 2019 conference will focus on the celebration of 100 years of electronic musical instruments, with exhibits of old equipment and experts speaking about antique gear. The event will also look to the future with an exploration of how technology is shaping the industry, particularly of how augmented reality and gaming are interacting with electronic music.
Health will also be another important topic at the conference, with panel discussions on wellbeing and relaxation spaces to “remind people of the balance” between work, socialising and rest.
Tickets for ADE 2019 are available here, priced at €450 for a five-day festival and conference pass and at €300 for a four-day conference-only pass. Prices go up on Sunday 1 September.
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Mariana Sanchotene appointed new director of ADE
The Amsterdam Dance Event Foundation, organiser of the Amsterdam Dance Music Event (ADE) has today announced the forthcoming appointment of Mariana Sanchotene as director, who will take up the role as of 1 October.
Sanchotene has worked for more than 20 years in the international live entertainment industry. Her past roles include work for Stage Entertainment and Cirque du Soleil and Dutch entertainment group ID&T, where she oversaw the group’s international growth as vice president of business development.
On her appointment to the head of the world’s largest club festival and conference for electronic music, Sanchotene comments: “ADE has been very special to me for years.
“I’ve always been proud to say that Amsterdam organises the best electronic music conference and the largest club festival. I’m looking forward to working with the ADE team and all other organisations involved in the success of this event.”
“ADE has been very special to me for years”
Alongside a newly appointed director, ADE will also welcome Willemijn Maas, former director of the Dutch public broadcasting association AVRO, as chairman of the supervisory board. The appointments are part of the ADE foundation’s transition into independence. Since 1995, the ADE has been a part of Buma Cultuur.
Sanchotene will succeed Richard Zijlma, who alongside Buma Cultuur director Frank Helmink, is still responsible for this year’s event, which will take place between 17 and 21 October.
The reshuffle has been welcomed by the ADE, with Frank Helmink commenting on behalf of the organisation that, “the step towards independence, Mariana’s start as director and Willemijn’s start as chairman, all contribute to the reinforcement and sustainability of ADE as the world’s most important event for electronic music.
“We are confident that with Mariana Sanchotene at the helm the Amsterdam Dance Event will remain as such.”
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