Junior Company’s 10th anniversary
Dutch National Ballet’s Junior Company was founded in 2013, so that young dancers were not ‘thrown in at the deep end’ straight after their education. This season, we celebrate the tenth anniversary of its foundation and of its artistic director Ernst Meisner.
Festive touring programme
In February and March, the Junior Company will celebrate the anniversary with an extra festive touring programme. It comprises three completely new creations by Joseph Toonga, Wubkje Kuindersma and Kirsten Wicklund, Toccata by Krzysztof Pastor, a piece that the Juniors are dancing for the first time, as well as Valse Fantaisie, a graceful yet very demanding classical gem by the master choreographer George Balanchine.
Ten years ago, even the initiators – Ted Brandsen and former artistic director of the Dutch National Ballet Academy Christopher Powney – could never have imagined just how successful the Junior Company would be. The ensemble is in great demand at ballet venues in the Netherlands and abroad. Dancers from all over the world try to secure a place in the group, and more than forty of those who were successful have now moved up to join Dutch National Ballet’s main company.
Ernst Meisner, artistic director Junior Company
“Alongside intensive support and coaching, we give them the chance to clock up lots of flying hours.”
Documentary about ten years Junior Company
The Junior Company of the Dutch National Ballet, nurturing and developing exceptional young talent and shaping the future generation of leading dancers, is celebrating its 10-year anniversary. A celebratory documentary about a crucial platform for the development of young and ambitious dancers.
Ten years Junior Company
Corps de ballet, Junior Company class of 2019
Claire Tjoe-Fat
“My time with the Junior Company gave me much more confidence in my dancing. I used to suffer from stage fright at times, but now I can enjoy performing to the full. The group is incredibly close, and everyone gets a chance to prove themselves in bigger dance roles. I’ll never forget the time we all went on tour to Indonesia together. It was a really incredible experience!”
Joseph Massarelli – Soloist, Junior Company class of 2015
Joseph Massarelli
“My year in the Junior Company was probably one of the most important in my career to date. It helped me build the strong foundation you need for a dancing career, and the opportunities I received there have had a tremendous impact on my development within the main company. The Junior Company also showed me how valuable it is to have people in your life who support you – as a dancer and, more importantly, as an individual.”
Principal, Junior Company class of 2013
Jessica Xuan
“The Junior Company provides a great opportunity to gain experience in the professional dance world, along with getting to know the company and allowing the artistic staff to get to know you better as well. You get to dance a lot, both in groups and as an individual, and you forge very strong bonds. Everyone comes from a different country and has a different personality – and it’s precisely this individuality of each dancer that makes the Junior Company so special.”
Ten years Junior Company
The Junior Company is made possible by
