Dates

12-22 June 2025

Location

Dutch National Opera & Ballet, Main Stage

Running time

1:50, incl. 1 interval

Tickets

From € 29

Giorgi Potskhishvili and Anna Tsygankova
Photo: Hugo Thomassen

From lyricism to ecstasy: the power of pure dance

In the Holland Festival 2025, Dutch National Ballet is presenting an ode to pure, abstract dance. New to the company is Other Dances, by the American grand master Jerome Robbins. This choreographic gem will be combined with two recent highlights: Ted Brandsen’s The Chairman Dances and David Dawson’s The Four Seasons.

From lyricism to ecstasy: the power of pure dance

Jerome Robbins created Other Dances in 1976 for the international stars Natalia Makarova and Mikhail Baryshnikov. The exquisite Chopin duet was intended as an occasional work, but was so successful that both American Ballet Theatre and New York City Ballet took it into their repertoire that same year. The fact that Dutch National Ballet is now following suit is no coincidence, says artistic director Ted Brandsen. “Our company has several principal couples at the moment for whom this special work is not only a wonderful gift, but whose talent and skill will make it a true gift for the audience as well.”

Graceful and compelling 

The premiere duet is preceded by Ted Brandsen’s highly acclaimed The Chairman Dances (2023), to the compelling music of the same name by John Adams. Like the composer, Brandsen gives a nod to ballroom dance in his creation. Swathed in transparent, gender-neutral white dresses, the dancers perform the graceful choreography for an ensemble, from which individuals regularly break free. “As if they dance the spotlight for a moment, while the others make way for them.” 

Bordering on the impossible

The grand finale of Other Dances is David Dawson’s The Four Seasons (2022), which was received at its premiere with standing ovations. To Max Richter’s atmospheric re-interpretation of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, Dawson explores the cycles of life in a work that combines all the elements of his unique artistry: lyricism, emotion, ecstasy and a movement idiom that borders on the physically impossible.

Credits

Other Dances
Dutch premiere
Choreography  Jerome Robbins 
Music  Frédéric Chopin 
Costume design  Santo Loquasto
Lighting design  Jennifer Tipton, Kevin Briard
Repetiteur  Isabelle Guérin  

The Chairman Dances 
Choreography  Ted Brandsen 
Music  John Adams
Costume design  François-Noël Cherpin
Lighting design  Wijnand van der Horst

The Four Seasons 
Choreography  David Dawson 
Music  Max Richter 
Violin soloist  Isabelle van Keulen
Costume design  Yumiko Takeshima
Set design  Eno Henze
Lighting design  Bert Dalhuysen
Repetiteur  Raphaël Coumes-Marquet

Musical accompaniment  Dutch Ballet Orchestra conducted by Koen Kessels

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Ticket prices

We provide discounts tailored for certain groups to ensure our performances are accessible to all. Please visit this page to determine if you qualify for a discount.

Price category

Standard

CJP | Stadspas | Youth aged 16 and under

Premium

€ 66,00

€ 51,00

1st

€ 58,00

€ 48,00

2nd

€ 45,00

€ 35,00

3rd

€ 34,00

€ 24,00

4th

€ 23,00

€ 18,00

5th

€ 17,00

€ 11,00

Dutch National Opera & Ballet uses a system of dynamic pricing. This means that tickets for popular performances may increase in price as the performance date approaches and more tickets are sold. All prices exclude the booking fee (€ 2 per ticket).

Student discount and student alert

Last-minute deal! When a performance isn’t sold out, students can purchase a ticket online for just € 19 on the day of the performance starting from 13:00.

To stay updated on more offers, sign up for our student alert. This way, you’ll be informed in advance about which performances you can attend for just € 19!

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The Chairman Dances
The Chairman Dances - DNB (2023) | Photos: Marc Haegeman
The Chairman Dances
The Chairman Dances
The Chairman Dances
The Four Seasons
The Four Seasons - DNB (2021) | Photos: Hans Gerritsen
The Four Seasons
The Four Seasons
The Four Seasons
Dutch Ballet Orchestra

Dutch Ballet Orchestra

Dutch Ballet Orchestra is the leading orchestra for dance in the Netherlands. In every performance, the orchestra searches for inspiring synergy between music and dance, in order to give the audience a magical experience. From classical ballet to modern masterpieces, and from music education to talent development, Dutch Ballet Orchestra inspires the movement in dance.

Dutch Ballet Orchestra

From 1 August 2024, the Flemish conductor Koen Kessels (1961) will be the new music director of Dutch National Ballet, and artistic director and principal conductor of Dutch Ballet Orchestra. He is taking over the baton from Matthew Rowe, who has fulfilled this special dual position since 2013 and who will be returning as principal guest conductor.

Since its inception in 1965, the orchestra has been the proud musical partner of Dutch National Ballet and Nederlands Dans Theater. One important mission of Dutch Ballet Orchestra is investing in the youngest generation of dancers and musicians.

In 2023, for instance, the orchestra issued an open call for young composers, in collaboration with Dutch National Ballet, resulting in a new work that was presented in the Junior Company’s touring programme, Ten. The orchestra has also been working for some years already with the Dutch National Ballet Academy. For example, the orchestra members provide the music for the end-of-year performances Dancers of Tomorrow.

Dutch Ballet Orchestra has also collaborated regularly on innovative – and award-winning – family and school productions. Creatures, in partnership with ISH Dance Collective, won the international Young Audiences Music Award and the production Hansel and Gretel, received various Musical Awards. Last season, this tradition was continued in the production Beauty and the Beast. 

hetballetorkest.nl

Introduction

An introduction offering background information to enhance your theatre experience will take place 45 minutes before the performance. The introductions, held in Dutch, are free and require no reservation—simply present your ticket. They are held in the Souterrain.