excellent
The Dance and Opera Companies Inspection Committee, which assessed the Dutch National Ballet by order of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, has awarded the company very high marks. On the twelve components tested by the committee, the company achieved the maximum score of ‘excellent’ nine times and ‘very good’ three times. The committee has thus awarded the Dutch National Ballet even higher marks than in their 2008 report.
The committee states that the Dutch National Ballet’s repertoire is distinct from that of other companies, both nationally and internationally, and that its artistic output is extensive and of excellent quality. In the report, the committee states that the City of Amsterdam also considers the Dutch National Ballet a world-class organisation that is important for the position of Amsterdam in the rest of the world.
growth
Stijn Schoonderwoerd, managing director of the Dutch National Ballet:
“The report testifies to the company’s growth and its excellent position at the moment. The current ambitious and entrepreneurial strategy of the company, focusing on new repertoire, education, regional distribution and talent development, appears to be successful, and has been rewarded by very high marks from the Inspection Committee. Hopefully, this report will contribute towards the Dutch National Ballet being able to continue along this course. The committee does emphasise, however, that the company has insufficient funds to be able to present new, full-length productions each year. If the subsidy cuts in the cultural budget turn out unfavourably for us, our current prominent position in the Netherlands and abroad will be untenable. The committee also states that it is impossible to offset large cuts through sponsorship”.
On order from the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, the Dance and Opera Companies Inspection Committee paid visits in November 2010 to the four largest dance and opera companies of the Netherlands: the Dutch National Ballet, Nederlands Dans Theater, De Nederlandse Opera and the Nationale Reisopera. These companies all receive long-term subsidies under the Basic Infrastructure. The report has recently been presented to the Minister of Education, Culture and Science.
The Inspection Committee for dance is made up of Mr. B.J. McMaster of Edinburgh (chairman), Mr. drs. P. Bouw, Mr. dr. D. Klaic and Ms. K. Bennetts of Antwerp.