A Win with My Best Friend!

Chills and Cheers at the Netherlands Championship: Our “Hide & Seek” Aufguss

On the 21st and 22nd, the VNSWB Netherlands Aufguss Championship took place at Thermen Bussloo, and it was nothing short of magical. This was my fourth time competing, but this year was extra special—I got to share the stage with my best friend, Whitney Cox, who was in her second year at the NK. Performing together was a dream come true, and we poured our hearts into creating a truly unique show aufguss called “Hide & Seek.”

Behind the Scenes: Creating “Hide & Seek”

We wanted to do something different, something that would leave a lasting impression. So, we came up with a hauntingly beautiful story. In Hide & Seek, we played two little girls, Lily and Lucy, who move into a new house. But there’s a twist—rumors say the house is haunted. Of course, the girls can’t resist playing hide and seek in the garden, but their mother warns them to be inside before the lanterns turn on.

The tension builds as the lantern starts flickering, and the girls don’t make it back inside in time. That’s when the real chills begin—they become possessed. The entire aufguss performance unfolded in an eerie, abandoned garden setting, complete with haunting music and chilling special effects. It was a delicate balance of storytelling and towel artistry, and we were determined to bring the audience along on this spooky adventure.

Showtime: From Nerves to Magic

Our performance was scheduled for 4:30 PM on the first day. The morning was a blur of excitement as Whitney and I got ready together at my place, doing each other’s hair and makeup, laughing and hyping each other up. But as the clock ticked closer to showtime, the nerves kicked in. We headed to the theater an hour before our slot, ready to set up.

At the Netherlands Championship, you get exactly 15 minutes to transform the sauna. We hustled to get our decorations, ice, and water in place, only to realize—panic mode—we’d forgotten one of our special effect lamps! My heart sank, but thankfully, we had a backup lamp programmed into our light script. Crisis averted!

Once everything was set, we slipped into character, playing silly games with the guests and waving them inside. The moment the doors closed, the atmosphere changed. We gave each other one last look and whispered, “Let’s have fun!” and then, just like that, we were Lily and Lucy.

Living the Story, Feeling the Magic

The second we stepped into the sauna, we were fully in character, immersed in the world we’d created. Every move, every flick of the towel, every glance was part of the story. I could feel the audience holding their breath as the lantern flickered and the haunting music swelled. We even nailed a tricky towel throw that almost never works for us—it felt like pure magic.

Despite the earlier stress, everything flowed perfectly. For those 15 minutes, we weren’t just performing a show; we were living the story. The energy was electric, and the applause at the end was the sweetest reward.

Victory and What’s Next

When they announced that we’d won 1st place, I could hardly believe it. I looked at Whitney, and we both burst into happy tears. Sharing this victory with my best friend was everything I could’ve hoped for.

Now, we’re gearing up for the Aufguss World Championships in September, right here at Thermen Bussloo. It feels surreal to think that this journey, which started with a fun idea over coffee, has led us to the world stage.

Advice for Aspiring Show Aufguss Performers

If I’ve learned anything from this adventure, it’s that performing a show aufguss—especially as a duo—is all about teamwork and trust. Here are a few tips:

• Stay focused together: Keep each other grounded, especially when nerves kick in.
• Prepare everything in advance: From props to lights to timing, make sure every detail is planned out.
• Adapt and enjoy: If something goes wrong (and it will), just look at each other, laugh it off, and remember why you’re doing this—for the love of aufguss and the joy of performing.

This championship was about more than winning. It was about friendship, creativity, and sharing our story with an audience who felt every moment with us. I feel incredibly blessed to say that my best friend and I are the Netherlands Champs, and I can’t wait to see where this journey takes us next!

Do you want to know more about this show? click me!