The first footage of Ik val niet, ik dans is now available. This drama series, based on a true story, follows the whirlwind life of Emma Maas, who, as a child, is diagnosed with cancer and given no hope of recovery. Yet, against all odds, she defies expectations and gets the chance to truly start living.
From fear of death to a love for life
From Utrecht to New York, from the open fields to the heart of Amsterdam, Emma takes viewers on the rollercoaster ride of her life—embracing every moment with unwavering determination and a darkly witty sense of humor. But no matter how fiercely she lives, reality is always close behind. Ik val niet, ik dans premieres Thursday, April 10, and will be available to stream on NPO Start.
Based on the book of the same name
The four-part miniseries is based on the homonymous book by Margot van Schayk. Her friend and colleague, Fleur Winters, who is a producer at Big Blue and the creator of the series, explains: “I immediately knew I wanted to turn Margot’s life story into a drama series.” Now, four years after Margot’s passing in 2021 – she was 47 at the time – the KRO-NCRV series Ik val niet, ik dans is complete.
Inspiration for many
Producer Fleur Winters read along during the creation of Margot’s book. Fleur Winters: “I followed Margot’s journey while she was writing her book, and was deeply moved. Her resilience, paired with her humor, turned her struggles into an inspiring legacy. I hope this series carries that same impact.”
Sandra Hilster, media director at KRO-NCRV: “With this series, we aim to spark conversations around an illness that affects both the young and old. The hope, pain, love, and passion in this deeply personal story inspire us to fully embrace life, because, in the end, it’s the small moments that make the biggest difference.”
Roles for Hanna van Vliet and Pepijn Schoneveld
Hanna van Vliet delivers an impressive performance as the lead character, Emma Maas. Other cast members include Asma El Mouden, Chris Peters, Caya de Groot, Peter Blok, Pepijn Schoneveld, Thomas Ryckewaert, Loet Janssen, and Dalorim Wartes. The script was written by Eva Aben (Luizenmoeder, Ten Minste Houdbaar Tot), and the series is directed by Simone van Dusseldorp (Klem, De Droom van de Jeugd).
Ik val niet, ik dans is a co-production between Big Blue, KRO-NCRV, and the German ZDFneo. KRO-NCRV and Big Blue had previously worked together successfully on the award-winning series Rampvlucht. With this series, KRO-NCRV aims to inspire viewers to keep dancing, even when life makes them stumble.
Ik val niet, ik dans, available to stream for free from Thursday, April 10 on KRO-NCRV on NPO Start.