Overview Associations

The Bellettrie Library is a library of recreational literature and reading. The library originated in 1965 in the living room of a student house and is still managed and maintained by students. Bellettrie's collection contains approximately 15,000 bindings. There is both literature and novels; with specialties in Science Fiction, Fantasy, comics and DNE (Dutch Authors translated to English). In addition to these categories, the collection also contains Dutch, translated and English literature, as well as a collection of Detectives and Thrillers, children's books and Manga.

The Bellettrie is located in Bastille room 105 and is shared with games club Fanaat. The space is located on the first floor of the Bastille, on the side of the parking lot between the Bastille and the Sports Center. The space is accessible from both the parking lot and the Bastille Atrium.

Fanaat is the games association of the University of Twente. You can always find people at Fanaat for a board game, a quick card game and many other forms of entertainment, from complex war games that take days to party games on a console. Fanaat not only offers a large and varied collection of board games, but also has several consoles, each with a large selection of (especially multiplayer) games. Magic the Gathering and role-playing games like Dungeons and Dragons are also played with regularity at Fanaat.

Since its founding in 1994, 4 Happy Feet has grown into the largest cultural association on campus. The association offers weekly ballroom and salsa dance classes at various levels. Every 2 weeks members have the opportunity to apply their gained knowledge and network at the social dance nights. In addition, 4 happy feet organizes numerous events such as the team match, a Christmas ball and various parties and activities. Every year members can show off their new skills to friends and family at the annual graduation dance, where they also receive a diploma.

The club caters for dancers of all different levels and aspirations. Not only recreational, but also competitive dancers can express themselves within 4 happy feet. Members of 4 happy feet regularly travel the country for competitions at various levels. There are also national and international dance tournaments for students in which 4 happy feet participates. These tournaments are a great experience and accessible to dancers of all levels.

Arabesque is a lively modern dance association for students in Enschede. Arabesque offers training/lessons for motivated dancers who are looking for a creative challenge in line with modern dance. The association offers opportunities for creative development, physical awareness and performance skills in the lessons, which are taught by a professional instructor. Classes focus on the freedom of dance, and dancers are encouraged to create their own pieces. The creative classes are complemented by technical classes where students are taught the techniques necessary to dance.

Arabesque organizes an annual performance where the members can show the pieces they have created during the year.

Break-Even is the hip-hop and breakdance student association. Hip-hop is offered at two different levels. In addition, there is also a breakdance class on Tuesday nights.

The first hip-hop class is on a beginners level. Here the focus is on dances that are easy to learn, but challenging enough to develop yourself. The choreography is taught at a slower pace so everyone can follow it. The second class is an advanced level, where there is more focus on technique. Here you can challenge yourself to take on more complex choreography! The teacher also gives enough attention to the individual dancer and provides valuable feedback on dance techniques. The regular classes are interspersed with workshops on different styles, such as heels, house and dancehall.

During the breakdance lessons you learn movements that belong to breakdance. In addition, you can focus on your own goals, such as learning a handstand, headstand or specific freezes. The atmosphere is very relaxed and open for input, so everyone from beginner to advanced dancer is welcome at Break-Even.

Chassé is an association that enjoys practicing jazz dance with its members every Wednesday evening on campus. The lessons are given over 4 different levels by their enthusiastic dance teacher. The lessons consist of technique exercises, cardio and practicing choreographies for the performances. Besides that, activities are organized like the monthly chassé evening, drinks and workshops.

Jazz dance, or jazz ballet, is a broad spectrum of dance that combines the basic technique of classical ballet with pop music and show elements. The movements and music are 'jazzy', which means they are less strict. This style of dance comes with a lot of fun and enthusiasm while dancing. 

Primo Ballerino is the ballet society and with its foundation in 2019 the youngest cultural student society of the University of Twente. Classes are offered over three different levels which means that everyone can practice at his or her own level. Besides organizing ballet classes, Primo Ballerino also guarantees a lot of fun and we organize activities for all our members.

The Musica Silvestra Orchestra (MSO) is the student symphony orchestra of Enschede. Each year the MSO rehearses two programs that are concluded with a number of concerts. The orchestra consists mainly of students and staff members of the University of Twente and Saxion University, but everyone is welcome!

The programs are very diverse. The repertoire consists of symphonies and overtures but also, for example, film music. In addition, the orchestra regularly accompanies choirs and soloists. In the summer of 2014 there was even a collaboration with the rock band InWaves. In addition to the weekly rehearsal, there is a study weekend every program, usually in a camping farm. Such a weekend not only benefits the quality of playing, but is also heartily enjoyable!

The concerts of the MSO do not only take place in Enschede or on the Campus. In recent years, the MSO has given concerts in cities like Hengelo, Zwolle and Apeldoorn or in villages like Haaksbergen and Lonneker. The Musica Silvestra Orchestra can also be heard outside the Netherlands, during one of the concert tours. Some examples are Tuscany (2011), Krakow (2013) and Glasgow (2015).

Musilon is a student choir at the University of Twente that specializes in pop songs. The choir started out as a small group of students who mainly sang jazz, pop, rock and classical pieces but has quickly grown into a choir of over 50 members who rehearse every Monday. Musilon is open to everyone, no prior knowledge is required. The choir organizes two concerts each year where the latest songs are performed. One concert is around Christmas, the other shortly before the summer vacations. During the concerts Musilon sings a capella or accompanied by a piano. From time to time other associations such as dance or one of the orchestras join Musilon for a joint concert.

Musilon also organizes many activities such as study weekends or the traditional bicycle dinner, where each course is enjoyed at a different place. After each rehearsal, members often stay to sing more and the evening is often ended together with a drink in the Fortress Bar.

The Studenten Harmonie Orkest Twente is the wind orchestra of the University of Twente in Enschede. The orchestra, better known as SHOT, consists of approximately 65 students from the university and surrounding colleges. The orchestra's repertoire changes several times a year and is conducted by Ronny Buurink. 

Every year, SHOT gives two concerts on the university grounds. In preparation for these concerts, the orchestra traditionally retreats to the smallest possible village to rehearse the pieces for almost 20 hours. During these rehearsal weekends, besides the musicality, the sociability rises to unprecedented heights. Besides these concerts, SHOT regularly performs in other cities or participates in festivals. Besides performances in the Netherlands, SHOT visits a foreign festival once every two years during a concert trip.

Big band association UTmost consists of two student jazz bands: the UTmost Bigband and the UTmost Jazz Combination.

Since 2016, the UTmost Bigband has been led by Paul Rademaker. Under his musical direction, this group of students has been able to develop into a band that is guaranteed to put on a smashing show.

The jazz combo founded in 2015 as a breeding ground has separated from the UTmost Bigband. Due to the small line-up, in which jazz classics are given a UTmost tint, the UTmost Jazz Combination is ideally suited for an intimate evening of music.

InSPE gives people of different nationalities and backgrounds a creative outlet by working together on a project in a fun and challenging way. In this way the mutual cohesion of the cultural student organizations and its members is promoted. InSPE combines disciplines such as theater, singing, dancing and live music through an orchestra. Each board has the freedom to organize the new project in their own way. In 2023, InSPE will stage the Adams Family.

NEST is the theater association on campus with four different groups: Musical, Drama, Theaterlab and InterNEST. With this variety of groups, everyone can express themselves at NEST, from singing and dancing in the Musical group to writing and producing a play yourself at Theaterlab. Don't like being on stage yourself? That's no problem either, at NEST there is plenty of room to help with set design, make-up, costume or (lighting) technology.

Pro Deo is a group of people, nice and energetic, dynamic and full of pleasant humor. Here they practice the art of improvisational theater in the form of games and contest forms.

Thursday night is Pro Deo night, then they have their rehearsals in the Vrijhof. Currently Pro Deo has three groups: group 1 (beginners) and group 2 (advanced) in Dutch, and an international group; alternately the former play in the Amphitheater or in the Kleine Zaal. The two Dutch groups play every Thursday evening from 19:15 - 21:00, after which the members often go out for a drink in the Theatercafé in the Vrijhof. The international group plays from 21:00 - 22:30.

The lessons are given by two skilled certified directors. You will learn the basics of theater sports, different scenes (games) that theater sports is rich in, playing with high or low status, the art of mime and much more. 

Besides theatersports(lessons) Pro Deo also offers a lot of extra fun, like the yearly camps, dinners, drinks, you name it.