news

new dancers 2011 | 2012

01.08.2011 - New dancers, promotiions and dancers which (temporarily) have left the company. read more

Don Quichot on iTunes

01.08.2011 - Don Quichot performed by the Dutch National Ballet is now available for viewing in iTunes in Canada & the US read more

25 years

Jubilee the Amsterdam Music Theatre

30.07.2011 - The Amsterdam Music Theatre celebrates its 25 year jubilee. De Nederlandse Opera and The Dutch National Ballet look back on 25 years of highlights in the Music Theatre. But they look forward as well. read more

marijn rademaker regular guest principal

05.07.2011 - Starting with the 50-year jubilee season, Marijn Rademaker - currently principal with the Stuttgarter Ballet - will be a regular guest principal with the Dutch National Ballet.  read more

Life Time Achievement Award for Toer van Schayk

28.06.2011 - Toer van Schayk has been presented with the Life Time Achievement Award by the Benois de la Danse 2011. The 'Benois' is the 'Oscar' of dance. Van Schayk will receive the award next year, and is on behalf of his work as choreographer and as set designer. In this anniversary season, you can see his designs and choreography for De omkeerbaarheid van roest and Nutcracker & Mouse King, as well as his set and costume designs for Four Last Songs, Swan Lake and Giselle.

soloist, choreographer, designer

Van Schayk was associated with the Dutch National Ballet for 35 years. First, he danced as a soloist, standing out for his expressive and moving interpretations of ballets like Monument for a dead boy, The ropes of time and Romeo and Juliet. In 1971, at the insistence of Van Dantzig, he choreographed his first work, Onvoltooid verleden tijd. Five years later, he was appointed resident choreographer and created over thirty works in this capacity, including the full-length productions Landschap and (in collaboration with Wayne Eagling) Nutcracker & Mouse King.

visual artist

Throughout this period, Van Schayk also worked as a visual artist. His free work includes sculptures and paintings, and he is also one of the most remarkable Dutch set and costume designers. Besides designing his own ballets and those of Rudi van Dantzig, he also created the designs for Frederick Ashton’s <em>Cinderella</em> with the Royal Ballet in England, for example. Since his retirement in 2001, Van Schayk has always remained active with the Dutch National Ballet. For instance, he designed the sets and costumes for the company’s new production of Giselle in 2009.

Just like the Dutch National Ballet, the former resident choreographer and designer Toer van Schayk has a milestone to celebrate, as 28 September marks his 75th birthday. read more