History of Dutch National Ballet

Françoise Adret is head of the Ballet of the Nederlandse Opera (1947-1959), which merged with the Ballet der Lage Landen in 1959 to form the Amsterdams Ballet.

Mascha ter Weeme founds the Ballet der Lage Landen (1948-1959).

Sonia Gaskell founds her first company in the Netherlands: Ballet Recital, the forerunner of Gaskell’s famous Nederlands Ballet (1954-1961) that became Dutch National Ballet in 1961.

Rudi van Dantzig choreographs his first work: Nachteiland. He creates the work for Gaskell’s Nederlands Ballet.

The first work choreographed by Hans van Manen - Olé, olé, la Margarita - is performed at the Revue Ramses Shaffy in Amsterdam. To date, Van Manen has created more than 150 ballets.

Merger of the Ballet of the Nederlandse Opera and the Ballet der Lage Landen, to form the Amsterdams Ballet.

Dutch National Ballet is founded on 31 August 1961 through a merger of the Nederlands Ballet (Sonia Gaskell) and the Amsterdams Ballet (Mascha ter Weeme). This puts an end to the ‘ballet war’.

At the age of nineteen, Olga de Haas (1944-1978) is promoted to the rank of soloist and one year later to principal dancer. The promising star and audience darling rose to become a legendary Dutch ballerina. Her early death came at the age of 34.

The foundation of the Dutch Ballet Orchestra, which still accompanies performances by Dutch National Ballet and Nederlands Dans Theater today.

Rudi van Dantzig and Robert Kaesen become directors of Dutch National Ballet. Until 1969, the company has three directors: Sonia Gaskell, Van Dantzig and Kaesen.

The premiere of Van Dantzig’s Romeo and Juliet takes place on 16 February. The production is still one of the most successful full-length ballets in Dutch National Ballet’s repertoire.

On Christmas Day, Rudolf Nureyev makes his debut with Dutch National Ballet as a guest artist.

Sonia Gaskell leaves Dutch National Ballet. The artistic directors of the company are now Rudi van Dantzig and Robert Kaesen.

Alexandra Radius and her husband Han Ebbelaar join the company as principals. The couple will soon become the most famous dance duo of the Netherlands.

From now on, Rudi van Dantzig is the sole artistic director of Dutch National Ballet for twenty years. He develops the company along the lines set out by his predecessor, presenting a combination of classical ballets, highlights of the contemporary repertoire and new creations.

Hans van Manen, artistic director of Nederlands Dans Theater from 1961 to 1971, creates his first work for Dutch National Ballet as a freelance choreographer: Twilight. Two years later, he is appointed resident choreographer.

In 1976, dancer Toer van Schayk is appointed resident choreographer, alongside Hans van Manen and Rudi van Dantzig. In the 1970’s and 80’s, the three Van’s turn out to be an artistic gold mine. Their works gain international renown for Dutch National Ballet as a presenter of daring contemporary creations.

Van Manen’s ballet Live is the first video ballet in the Netherlands and probably even in the world. The premiere takes place in Koninklijk Theater Carré, in a double bill with Life, by Van Dantzig and Van Schayk.

The world premiere of Sir Peter Wright’s version of The Sleeping Beauty. It is an artistic milestone in the history of the company, covered on the front pages of many of the national newspapers. ‘Ballet celebrates triumph with Sleeping Beauty’.

The company commissions Gerardjan Rijnders, an avant-garde stage director, to create Bacchanten. The production is premiered in Koninklijk Theater Carré.

The company celebrates its silver jubilee in the Stadsschouwburg, marking the transition to its new quarters on Waterlooplein: The Amsterdam Music Theatre. The new ‘house’ is shared with De Nederlandse Opera (now Dutch National Opera).

Op 23 september 1986 wordt het Muziektheater geopend, in aanwezigheid van Koningin Beatrix en Prins Claus.