One of the leading companies world-wide in contemporary dance
Nederlands Dans Theater originated in 1959 when 22 people broke free from the Nederlands Ballet. These rebels were impassioned by dance and the desire to give it a style all their own. Under the direction of Carel Birnie and Benjamin Harkarvy they steadily built a different repertoire of modern dance. Over fifty years later Nederlands Dans Theater has become one of the leading dance companies in the world. A rich repertoire has been built up with works from master choreographers Jiří Kylián and Hans van Manen, as well as from resident choreographers Sol León and Paul Lightfoot, associate choreographers Crystal Pite and Johan Inger and many other guest choreographers like Ohad Naharin, Nacho Duato and William Forsythe. Under the direction of artistic director Paul Lightfoot Nederlands Dans Theater attracts full houses world-wide.
    
Through the years, but particularly in its hey-day under former artistic director Jiří Kylián, Nederlands Dans Theater has done pioneering work in contemporary dance. Ballets originally made for Nederlands Dans Theater are still danced all over the world. Numerous dancers and choreographers that once started with the company have set up their own dance companies world-wide. This is how Nederlands Dans Theater’s influence spreads further and further.
  
Nederlands Dans Theater has two companies, with two generations of dancers.
 
NDT 1
The big company was founded in 1959 and consists of thirty dancers. They vary in age from 23 to 42 and each one of them excels in their solo qualities. These phenomenal dancers and the multifaceted repertoire they bring to the stage attract full houses all over the world.
  
NDT 2
The company was founded in 1978 for young upcoming talent with an astonishing technique and endless energy and currently consists of sixteen dancers up to the age of 23. NDT 2 is a revolutionary breeding ground of talent and dances repertoire of established choreographers and new creations.

Press quotes
“If you see one live performance this year…Nederlands Dans Theater is the one to see” (New York Times)
“A team of heartbreakingly sleek and avid dancers” (The Guardian)
“NDT I offer startling imagery, stunning dancers and world-class choreography”. (The Daily Telegraph)

Emily Molnar
Artistic Director Nederlands Dans Theater

Emily Molnar is one of Canada’s most acclaimed dance artists. She graduated from the National Ballet School of Canada, and danced with the National Ballet of Canada, Ballet BC and the Frankfurt Ballet under the direction of William Forsythe. She has choreographed various works as a choreographer. From 2009 until August 2020, Molnar has been the Artistic Director of Ballet BC in Vancouver, Canada and in 2014, Molnar also took on the role of Artistic Director of Dance at the cultural education institute Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity in Banff, Canada. In 2016, Molnar was named a Member of the Order of Canada, one of Canada’s highest civilian awards.



Willemijn Maas
Managing director

Willemijn Maas was appointed as Business Director of Nederlands Dans Theater with effect from May 1, 2019.
Prior to her position at NDT, Willemijn Maas was an independent interim director, advisor and supervisor. After a career in health care and (higher) education from 2006 to 2013, she was General Director of the former Dutch public broadcasting association AVRO. Since the season 2020-2021, she forms the Executive Board of NDT together with Artistic Director Emily Molnar.

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