About
Alex Sijm
As a child, Alex had only one dream: to become a circus director. In one of the least profitable industries, he built a thriving enterprise with four productions and an annual audience of 150,000 visitors. His circuses travelled with various tents across the Netherlands and Belgium and were honoured with the North Holland Culture Award and De Opsteker from the City of Utrecht.
A few years ago, Alex’s body abruptly forced him to slow down. Due to the rare condition hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP), he is gradually losing strength in his legs, requiring him to make significant changes to his life. However, this has not stopped him from pursuing his dreams, both professionally and personally. For Alex, that means inspiring others to do the same.
A NEW AUDIENCE
Alex swaps the circus for the world of conferences and seminars. A new audience welcomes him with open arms. Once again, spectators are on the edge of their seats. Not for circus performers this time, but for a life story that encourages them to face adversity head-on and pursue their dreams. And, of course, a generous dose of humour is never missing!
RESILIENCE AND CREATIVITY
‘You don’t just tell a story—you are the story,’ Alex was told after one of his talks. The moment he steps onto the stage in his circus uniform, the tone is set. His story is about transforming dreams into a mission, following your instincts, embracing change, and persevering despite setbacks.
Though Alex’s body may be losing strength, his story is anything but weak. It is powerful, motivating, and deeply inspiring. It helps you recognise that you, too, possess the resilience and creativity to overcome obstacles. Alex invites you to look within yourself and discover how to turn your own dream into a mission.
As a child, I fell often. Each time, I had a choice: stay down and cry or get up and carry on. Anyone who wants to achieve their dreams will stumble many times—but just as often, they will rise again.
1. Keynote - Live Your Dream
With Live Your Dream, Alex inspires his audience to build something meaningful from passion, love, and intrinsic motivation. People often believe they lack the resilience and creativity needed to overcome obstacles, but Alex is convinced that everyone possesses these qualities. His personal life story is living proof—he understands better than anyone how to turn disadvantages into advantages.
With humour, he shares his journey and invites you to look within yourself. It is a search that begins with daring to dream and not fearing the opinions of others—then transforming that dream into a mission.
Live Your Dream not only sparks reflection but also motivates action.
Keynote: 60 minutes
Interactive keynote: 90 minutes (including exercises for participants)
2. Keynote - Staying Down Is Not an Option
Imagine a doctor telling you, “I have bad news. You won’t get better.” How would you react? Perhaps with anger, sadness, or fear. Or maybe, in your own way, you would develop resilience and vitality. But how do you do that?
In a deeply personal journey, Alex discovers the answer. With warmth, humour, and sometimes thought-provoking honesty, he shares his insights in Staying Down Is Not an Option.
This powerful and inspiring talk explores perseverance, embracing change, overcoming obstacles, and discovering the path to personal strength that lies within us all.
Keynote: 60 minutes
Interactive keynote: 90 minutes (including exercises for participants)
3. Theatre Presentation - Staying Down Is Not an Option
Can theatre help you transform your life? Make wiser—healthier, more sustainable, and safer—choices? Cope better with setbacks? The cast of Staying Down Is Not an Option believes it can.
With a powerful, authentic story, this theatre talk invites audiences to experience new perspectives and realise that there are alternative ways forward—and how to embrace them.
Can theatre help you change your life? Can it guide you towards wiser, healthier, more sustainable, and safer choices? Can it help you navigate setbacks? The cast of Staying Down Is Not an Option firmly believes that theatre can do exactly that. Through a powerful and authentic story, Alex Sijm and his team enable the audience to experience new perspectives and realise that change is possible.
Discovering Inner Strength
The cast uses theatre as a powerful tool to inspire people to uncover and harness their inner strength. This production brings deeply personal themes to life—mental well-being, resilience, vitality, and inclusion—subjects that the performers hold close to their hearts.
Total Theatre
The cast moves the audience with Alex’s life story, told by Alex himself. Modern circus acts and live music weave throughout the performance, creating a unique and immersive experience. These acts, rich in metaphor and narrative depth, provide space for artistic expression while reinforcing the core message.
More than just a story, this moving theatrical experience compels audiences to take action and inspires lasting change.
Theatre Performance: 75 minutes
4. Event Moderator – A Master of Ceremonies Tailored to Your Event
Event Moderator and Facilitator
Alex is not your “everyday moderator.” His presence is distinctive—walking differently, dressed as a master of ceremonies, and openly addressing the unspoken. Alex defies convention, and it works. With his unique humour and insights, he strikes the right balance: serious when needed, yet always with a sense of entertainment.
An Unconventional Event Moderator
As a non-traditional moderator, Alex is not the right fit for every conference, but he’s perfect for organisations willing to be bold and offer participants both substance and an engaging experience. Alex specialises in themes such as cultural and social entrepreneurship, inclusion, living with physical limitations, diversity, resilience, and creativity. His personality brings these topics to life, ensuring an experience that resonates.
Collaborative Event Planning
While a moderator may not traditionally be involved in event production, Alex brings with him two decades of experience in organising productions large and small. This background enables him to work seamlessly with organisers, directing teams, and production staff, offering input on elements like event flow, transitions, and scheduling. With Alex, you gain a uniquely hands-on, creative partner for your event.
Tailored Master of Ceremonies
- Initial phone consultation before agreement
- Briefing calls with event speakers
- In-person meeting before the event
- Production coordination
- Travel costs included
- Rate per half day, including preparations
- Pricing available on request
5. Tailor-made Keynotes
Inspirational talks filled with humour, emotion, and valuable insights, designed for teams, organisations, and groups. Alex combines his personal journey with principles from communication science, psychology, and haptonomy to create a powerful and engaging experience.
Possible Themes:
Transforming a dream into a mission
Discovering what makes you unique
Unlocking your natural creativity
Overcoming obstacles and setbacks
Developing resilience
Embracing change
Living and working intuitively
Tailored to Your Needs
What do you want to achieve with the talk? What key takeaways should participants leave with? During an initial consultation, you and Alex define clear goals to ensure a dynamic and impactful session.
The result? An energising talk on unlocking creativity, navigating change, entrepreneurship in its broadest sense, daring to dream, maintaining a positive mindset, and staying focused—seamlessly aligned with the message you want to convey.
