Refugee Welcome Week - Amsterdam

Radical Hope in public space

During Refugee Welcome Week, we transformed the streets of Amsterdam into a stage of solidarity. Refugee Welcome Week takes its name from the Refugees Welcome movement: a call for dignity and care. In a time when xenophobic narratives are growing louder, we amplify this message through action. We invite everyone not to accept the world as it is, but to dance a better version of it. To the beats of DJ Cheb Runner, we form a dancing swarm that interprets public space as a site for freedom of movement. This is radical hope: the courage to create a future together that we cannot yet see, but believe is possible.

How Does a Swarm Work? Swarm is based on the movement principles of bird flocks. Power is decentralized; the collective decides where the movement goes. We practice three things:

Making Space: Unlike a compact crowd, we keep distance (a variable scale from 1 to 10). This makes the group porous: passersby can walk through and spontaneously join.

Sticking Together: We move as one organism, but with space for the individual.

360-Degree Awareness: Instead of following the person in front (hierarchy), you pay attention to your entire surroundings. Decision-making can emerge from any position in the group.

Accessibility for All Bodies Inclusion is in the DNA of our method. We ensure everyone can participate:

Physical Access: The route is step-free and accessible for wheelchairs.

Own Pace: You can step in, out, or pause whenever you like. The swarm moves at the pace of the slowest participant.

Sensory Safety: The distance between dancers prevents unwanted contact. Sound comes from small, wearable speakers; volume is low and personally adjustable.

Language & Communication: Introductions are available in text, spoken word (NL/EN/AR), and sign language.

Music & Sound DJ Cheb Runner plays live sets that respond to the environment. Instead of large, loud speakers dominating the space, dancers carry small speakers in crossbody bags. This makes the sound less invasive to the surroundings and gives dancers the freedom to take any corner, stair, or tunnel. The result is a mobile club moving through the city.

Collaboration Swarms always emerge from co-creation. For Refugee Welcome Week, we collaborated with activists, volunteers, and local communities. Our collective model, designed by Ro P. Gayo, ensures clear roles (such as 'boundary dancers' who guard the interaction with the outside world) while creativity remains decentralized.