Thank you Carbro!
I feel much more welcome now!
My first post was like walking into a room, finding it empty, and asking a question in the silence anyway...
So what shall I say about everything going on here...
A few months ago they just blew me away with a new production: an adaption of Mozart's Don Giovanni!
It was beautiful, exciting and SEXY!
I hope they'll keep it in their repertoire, and preferably even take it abroad so you can all see it!
Then in March/April they celebrated some ballet "pioneers" with Balanchine's Symphony in C, a poignant new choreography by Hans van Manen called Frank Bridge Variations (to the music of Britten's Variations on the theme of Frank Bridge), and William Forsythe's The Second Detail.
I don't know how much recognition Van Manen gets overseas, but I think he's fantastic. His choreographies bring such a rare, powerful physicality to ballet! This one was beautiful and rather dark, with grasping grim atmosphere (but sort of happy end, even though it wasn't "a story" as such) that truly made it an experience to watch.
After that, part of the company went to Canada doing several choreographies including Carmen, and the other part toured the Netherlands with "Feest". Unfortunately I wasn't in the opportunity to visit either one.
And next is "Ballet Now", showing (in their own words) the current "state of ballet". I will go see it next week, so I can't say anything about that yet.
It's sad though, because it marks the departure of two fantastic, experienced principals: Jahn Magnus Johansen and Nathalie Caris.
So I guess that's all the latest.
But I don't understand, the counter says over 60 people viewed my message, but nobody replied. So appearently none of you live in Amsterdam or ever visit the Dutch National Ballet? Then who are you all? Was my subject description confusing (so you found out only after reading it that it didn't apply to you), or are you just curious about Amsterdam, or the Dutch National Ballet, or what? Don't be shy, let me know!
If there's anything you want to ask, just post it. I might not know it either, but maybe I do.
And if anyone's seen "Feest" or the Canada show (surely they weren't performing for empty theatres there?), please tell me about it!
Cathy