Samuele Maniglia:
Samuele, born in Lecce, Italy, is a professional dancer. He is educated and trained at the Pôle National Supérieur de Danse Rosella Hightower in Cannes, France, where he completed his Baccalaureate and obtained a Professional License in Sound and Image Technology for Performing Arts.
His professional journey began with the Cannes Junior Ballet, followed by projects as the Gala Viva Maia and the Biennale Internationale des Arts du Cirque (BIAC) in France. After that he collaborated with De Dutch Don’t Dance Division, UIB, and independent projects in The Hague. His repertoire includes works by Jean-Christophe Maillot, Jiří Kylián, Wubkje Kuindersma, Nils Christe, Thierry Malandain, and Davide Bombana.
Beside performance, Samuele has participated in workshops and educational projects for children of very young ages, in collaboration with schools, cultural institutions, and artistic programs. ‘These experiences are especially meaningful to me. I was able to work with children who may not have regular access to artistic education. Through movement, play, and imagination, I seek to offer a space where children can explore their bodies freely, develop confidence, and discover movement as a tool for expression, communication, and well-being from the earliest stages of life.’
Samuele’s artistic identity has also been shaped by his encounter with somatic dance practices and his studies in Chinese medicine philosophy, which transformed his relationship with the body. ‘The approaches from these practices and philosophy taught me to listen deeply to breath, energy flow, and internal sensations. Transforming dance as a discipline into an integration of body, mind, and spirit into my own daily life.’
Lotte Aguilera:
Lotte graduated as a physical therapist in 2007. In 2008, she completed a one-year program in Haptonomy, but then moved to Germany, where she lived and worked as a physical therapist for four years. In 2014, she began her Master’s in Pediatric Physical Therapy in Breda and started working in a pediatric physical therapy practice in Rotterdam in 2015. In 2018, she obtained her Master of Science in Pediatric Physical Therapy and started her own practice in Scheveningen. In 2022, she completed the Sensory Profile Disorder course at ‘Anders kijken naar kinderen’ and successfully followed the Coaching course there in 2023.
From then on, more and more requests for help emerged focusing on the general development of the child. ‘I notice that parents are increasingly looking for depth and enrichment in their child’s development. Besides the challenges some children have with their motor skills, I also notice more challenges within the societal aspects of their development, for both the parents and the child. This led to the growing idea of giving a different focus to my expertise, so that I can better respond to this.’
In 2025, the idea for a dance class for adults emerged. ‘Dance has always been a part of my life. I danced many hours a week until I was 20, met my husband at salsa lessons, and passed the dance genes on to my children.’ After having a meeting and a conversation with Samuele about the content of these classes for adults, a bigger idea emerged.
Samuele and Lotte:
Samuele and Lotte began their journey in September 2025 with dance and movement classes for adults, followed a month later by classes for children.
Their collaboration is rooted in movement and the body, sitting at the meeting point of two complementary disciplines: physical therapy and dance. Where knowledge of the body meets creative expression, guidance becomes both grounded and free. From the very beginning, the focus was not only on learning movement, but on discovering personal abilities, exploring new ways of moving beyond everyday comfort zones, and developing a deeper awareness of the body.
It became clear that guiding others to discover their personal strengths and supporting individual growth was at the heart of this work. From this realization, The Guidance Company was born.
From 2026 onward, The Guidance Company offers guidance in the development and growth of your own possibilities. Together, we aim to cultivate deeper self-worth, embodied awareness, and an enriched sense of connection to your body, your movement, and yourself.