November 2019
Best of Balanchine III
Pioneering, original and timeless, George Balanchine's (1904-1983) ballets are often compared to Picasso's paintings or Stravinsky's music. In Best of Balanchine, Dutch National Ballet honours the genius and astounding versatility of this master choreographer.
Duration: 2:25
December 2019
The Nutcracker and the Mouse King
A heart-warming fairy-tale ballet to lighten the dark days of winter, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King is a choreography by Toer van Schayk and Wayne Eagling based on the Christmas classic, and one of the most successful Dutch theatre productions of all time.
Duration: 2:20January 2020
The Nutcracker and the Mouse King
A heart-warming fairy-tale ballet to lighten the dark days of winter, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King is a choreography by Toer van Schayk and Wayne Eagling based on the Christmas classic, and one of the most successful Dutch theatre productions of all time.
Duration: 2:20
Rodelinda
What makes Handel’s opera Rodelinda such a popular favourite? In arias suffused with grief, bitter yearning and joy, her story speaks to our imaginations and draws us into her dilemma. What would you do, faced with a choice between loyalty and power?
Duration: 3:40
February 2020
Nabucco
Nabucco is a biblical drama in both narrative and scale and was the young Verdi’s breakthrough composition. Perhaps best known for the beautiful chorus of the slaves, this is the first time this beloved opera is being mounted at Dutch National Opera & Ballet.
Duration: 2:20
Frida
Frida by choreographer Annabelle Lopez Ochoa was inspired by the life story of Frida Kahlo. One of the most intriguing artists of the twentieth century, the Mexican-born Kahlo refused to bow to misfortune, zealously fought taboos and championed women's rights, and painted portraits that became famous the world over.
March 2020
Unboxing Ballet 2
The Junior Company has became a fixture in the Dutch theatre firmament. This season they’ll once more be touring the whole country to showcase a cross-section of the ballet repertoire. Unboxing Ballet 2, with creations of Hans van Manen and other leading choreographers, is sure to delight both die-hard dance fans and first-time audiences.
Ritratto
The inspiration for Willem Jeths’ third opera, Ritratto (‘Portrait’), was Luisa Casati. One life-size portrait of her by Giovanni Boldini was included in the exhibition High Society at the Rijksmuseum (2018) and a whole show in Venice was dedicated to portraits of her.
Duration: 1:15
Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny
Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny is a satirical parable by Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht about capitalism running rampant. There are no limits on what’s allowed in Mahagonny, as long as you can pay. Weill’s fusion of classical, jazz and popular tunes makes for a roller coaster musical production.
Duration: 2:45
A song for the moon
Feeling lonely, Mole decides to write a song that will cheer up the moon. Grasshopper rehearses his orchestra until they know the song by heart. Then, one night, they put on a beautiful concert. So why does the moon look so sad afterwards…? Illustration: © 2012 Mance Post
Duration: 1:00April 2020
Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny
Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny is a satirical parable by Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht about capitalism running rampant. There are no limits on what’s allowed in Mahagonny, as long as you can pay. Weill’s fusion of classical, jazz and popular tunes makes for a roller coaster musical production.
Duration: 2:45
Four Seasons
In Four Seasons Dutch National Ballet presents the state of the art in today’s dance landscape, with three new creations by three world-class choreographers. Injecting classical ballet techniques with new influences and impulses, they reveal just how electrifying, edgy and inventive twenty-first century academic ballet can be.
May 2020
Grimm
In the world of GRIMM, Cinderella walks in sneakers and other familiar fairy tale characters are all given a funky twist. This is no sugar-coated fable, but a modern-day romp in which ballet and hip-hop dancers propel each other to ever greater heights.
New Moves 2020
Under Artistic Director Ted Brandsen, Dutch National Ballet has made a commitment to investing in the development of choreographic talent. New Moves is an annual dance event organised since Brandsen's appointment in 2003 to give company members a chance to develop their choreographic potential.
June 2020
Rusalka
Dvořák’s Rusalka is about a water nymph who dreams of a life on land, rooted in the tradition of the ‘undine’ as well as the opposition between man and nature. While Rusalka sacrifices almost everything to live as a human with her prince, she ultimately returns to the water utterly disillusioned.
Duration: 3:35
Beethoven
At the 2020 Holland Festival, Dutch National Ballet will present the world premiere of Beethoven. George Balanchine once remarked that ‘Dance should leave Beethoven well alone – there’s no choreographing to his music’. But plenty of choreographers have since proved him false. Making ballet to Beethoven may not be easy, but the results are sensational! In honour of his 250th birthday, Dutch National Ballet presents two masterpieces and one new creation inspired by the grand master’s music.
The monster in the maze
In the kingdom of Minos, there lives a fearsome creature: half man, half bull. The king keeps it locked deep inside a maze, feeding it the flesh of his enemies. Now, the king has ordered the city of Athens to sacrifice its youth – its future! – in order to feed the monster of Minos. The young hero Theseus believes that he can defeat the monster, but will he be able to keep his courage in the heart of the maze?
July 2020
The monster in the maze
In the kingdom of Minos, there lives a fearsome creature: half man, half bull. The king keeps it locked deep inside a maze, feeding it the flesh of his enemies. Now, the king has ordered the city of Athens to sacrifice its youth – its future! – in order to feed the monster of Minos. The young hero Theseus believes that he can defeat the monster, but will he be able to keep his courage in the heart of the maze?
