Holland Dance Festival Gala

During this gala, you will be treated to the performances of not one, but three of the world's premier junior companies. The first ensemble is Ailey II from New York, a distinguished guest marking its fiftieth birthday celebration this year. Established in 1974 by the American choreographer and visionary Alvin Ailey, Ailey II stands as one of the pioneering junior ensembles globally. Over the years, Ailey proved his conviction that his young, virtuoso, predominantly African American dancers could achieve as much, if not more, success than the 'main company' itself—the acclaimed Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, which we presented with resounding success in 2019.

Breathtaking

The gala will also introduce you to the international prodigies of two paramount Dutch junior companies, both celebrating milestones this season. The Dutch National Ballet's Junior Company, now a decade old, has exceeded all expectations, with over half of the dancers of the 'main company' of the National Ballet being former juniors and ten of those even attaining the position of soloist. Meanwhile, NDT 2, the 45-year-old junior ensemble of Nederlands Dans Theater, not only stands as the oldest of its kind in the country but has established itself as more than just a match for NDT 1. With its breathtaking dancers, NDT 2 adds an extra dimension into the magic of dance through its fresh and sparkling character.

Jiří Kylián Ring

In addition to these three junior companies, Future of Dance features performances by emerging talents from a number of leading international dance academies. The prestigious Jiří Kylián Ring will also be presented during the gala and will be bestowed upon an individual who has made an inspiring and indispensable contribution to dance in the Netherlands in recent years or longer than that.