Introdans, the Netherlands, 2011
Tour Dates
  • 15 Nov - 28 Nov, 2011

Tour Dates: 15 Nov - 28 Nov, 2011

Introdans presents modern ballet performances on the themes Old masters, Contemporary partners, new talent. Various choreographers create ballets for Introdans which combine classical elements and modern techniques.

Ticket Information:

15th /16th Nov, Beijing National Centre for the Performing Arts, hot-line: 010-66550000
19th /20th Nov, Shanghai Center Theatre, hotline: 021-62797132
23th Nov, Anhui Grand Theater, hotline: 0551-2884660/2885118
26th Nov, Wuhan Qintai Grand Theatre, hotline: 027-84803018/84550088-8888/8886

 

Introdans Biography

Introdans presents modern ballet performances on the themes Old masters, Contemporary partners, new talent. Various choreographers create ballets for Introdans which combine classical elements and modern techniques.

In the 1971/72 season the Dutch dance world still had an uncomplicated structure. There were two large companies, Het Nationale Ballet and the Nederlands Dans Theater, and there was a special company aimed at young people: the Scapino Ballet. In addition there were a number of initiatives, mostly situated in the Randstad (the conurbation including Utrecht, Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam in the west of the Netherlands). This meant that hardly any dance performances were to be seen in the east of the country, let alone that dancers could develop professionally there.

At this time Ton Wiggers attended the Arnhem Dance Academy, studying in the departments for stage dance and for dance teaching. On completing their studies many students left for the Randstad due to a lack of dance employment in the region. Ton Wiggers recognized that the absence of an eastern dance facility created a major gap. Together with Hans Focking, who had his own theatre agency in Arnhem, he set up the ballet working group Studio L.P. in 1971, the forerunner of Introdans.

The aim was clear right from the start: The goal of the ballet group is to bring ballet, in the broadest sense of the term, to the attention of the largest possible public. In this respect the group aims primarily at its own region, namely the provinces of Gelderland and Overijssel.

Since 1971 Introdans has grown into a top dance company. With a healthy dose of ambition, the company remains true to its mission to present high quality dance to a broad public. Since 2009 Introdans has been designated part of the basic national infrastructure of the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. With the Canon of Introdans, the two dance ensembles present a varied and attractive modern ballet repertoire. As the city of Arnhem抯 flagship company, Introdans performs in theatres throughout the Netherlands and travels the world: both ensembles are frequent guests on international stages.

Introdans is also increasingly building its international status. To give one example, Introdans was the first foreign ballet company to appear on the new stage of the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. In October 2003 both ensembles and Introdans Education were in South Korea to give performances and carry out projects. Other highlights of the Introdans history are the appearances of Introdans Ensemble for Youth on Broadway- New York in 2001 and 2005. But European venues and our neighbouring countries are not neglected either.

Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet of the Netherlands is patroness of Introdans. Recently Introdans was invited to perform during state visits of Her Majesty Queen Beatrix: in 2006 at Teatro Colón , Buenos Aires (Argentina), in 2008 at the National Opera in Tallinn (Estonia) and in 2009 in CENART/ Teatro de las Artes in Mexico City.

Introdans is now a flourishing company with over 70 employees. The directors are Roel Voorintholt (artistic director) and Ton Wiggers (general director). The tightly-knit ensemble is accommodated in the centre of Arnhem and is now one of the three biggest dance companies in the Netherlands. The current grant providers are the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, the regional governments of Gelderland and Overijssel and the Municipality of Arnhem. In addition, many sponsors provide financial support for the company's activities.

Jiří Kylián: Choreographer & Director

Jiří Kylián (born Prague, 1947) started his dancing career with Stuttgarter Ballet and made his Dutch debut with Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT) as guest choreographer in 1973. Viewers was his first and successful choreography for NDT. This was the first of fifty choreographies specially created for NDT. In 1975, he leaves Stuttgarter Ballet in Germany to devote himself completely to NDT.

In 1978 Kylián broke through internationally with Sinfonietta, set to music by his good friend Leos Janacek. This work was specially created for the famous Spoleto Festival in the United States and was received very well. During the same year, Kylián becomes artistic director of NDT. After 25 years, he is no longer artistic director of NDT. Kylián receives many awards, such as the Edinburgh Festival Critics Award (1996, 1997) and the Joost van den Vondel award (1997). In 1995 he was knighted in the Order of Officer of Orange Nassau.

Various works by Kylián are in the repertoire of Introdans Ensemble for Youth, amongst which parts from Dream Dances (1997), three parts from Toy Stories (1999), Piccolo Mondo (1999), part from Symfonie in D (2002), Sechs Tänze (2004) and the famous Stamping Ground (2006). In the 2006/2007 season, Introdans Ensemble for Youth danced a special program about Kylián: KYLIÁN4KIDS. In 2009 the Ensemble added Un Ballo to the repertoire.

Maestro Kylián programme

 

-Evening Songs

Music Antonín Dvorák, Vier Lieder für gemischten Chor op. 29 (1/3), In der Natur op. 63 (4/2)

Costume design Jiří Kylián, Joke Visser

Lighting design Kees Tjebbes

Duration ± 12 minutes

World première 9 September 1987, Nederlands Dans Theater, The Hague

Première Introdans Ensemble for Youth 28 October 2006, Theater De Spiegel Zwolle


-Sechs Tänze

Music Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Deutsche Tänze kv 571 (History of the Waltz, Residentie Orkest conducted by Heinz Wallberg, cd nr. 420 052-2)

Decor and costume design Jiří Kylián

Lighting design Joop Caboort, adapted by Kees Tjebbes

Supervision costumes Joke Visser

Duration ± 17 minutes

World première 24 October 1986, Nederlands Dans Theater, The Hague

Première Introdans Ensemble for Youth 23 October 2004, Arnhem

-Indigo Rose

No credits known yet, premiere with Introdans Ensemble for Youth 26 February 2011.

Artistic director Roel Voorintholt.


Choreography: Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui

-In Memoriam

Music: A Filetta, L’Attesa (from Sì di mè, edition 2003, Virgin 590825) and U Lamentu di Ghjesu (from Passione: Polyphonie Corse, edition 2004, Olivi OVI 45208202)

Film: Gilles Delmas

Costume design: Hedi Slimane

Costumes made by: Martine Douma

Lighting design: Dominique Drillot

Duration: ± 13 minutes

World premiere: 26 December 2004, Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, Monaco

Premiere Introdans: 27 February 2010, Arnhem