Profile
Nederlands Dans Theater (known as NDT) was established in 1959 when a group of 18 members of the former Het Nederlands Ballet (Ballet of the Netherlands) broke away from the traditionally orientated company to form NDT. Benjamin Harkarvy (ballet master and artistic director), Carel Birnie (managing director) and the new group were dedicated to exploring new forms of dance, new techniques and new ideas in experimentation. With Harkarvy and Hans van Manen as resident choreographers, other distinguished choreographers – including Americans Anna Sokolow and Glen Tetley – created a challenging repertory for the company which, during the sixties, was accepted as the most innovative and exciting dance group in Europe.
Nederlands Dans Theater I is the main company of 32 dancers and Nederlands Dans Theater II is a group of 12 dancers up to the age of 21. The two companies are unique in that they are not based on a hierarchy: there are no echelons such as a corps de ballet, coryphées, soloists and principals. All the dancers are of equal status.
Although celebrated choreographer Jiri Kylián has created more then fifty works for the company, he has extended the repertory with works by several of the world’s most renowned choreographers.
