10 Year Junior Company of the National Ballet

This season, the Junior Company of the National Ballet is celebrating its tenth anniversary and that of artistic coordinator Ernst Meisner with an extra festive program. This includes three entirely new creations plus a work danced for the first time by the Juniors, and 'Valse Fantaisie', an equally light-hearted and demanding classical-romantic gem by master choreographer George Balanchine. Four contemporary premieres, one classical masterpiece in Schouwburg Amstelveen.

10 Year Junior Company of the National Ballet

Location

Schouwburg Amstelveen

Stadsplein 100

1181 ZM Amstelveen

Show in Google Maps

Junior Company

Even initiators Ted Brandsen and Christopher Powney (former artistic director of the National Ballet Academy) could not have imagined ten years ago that the Junior Company would be so successful. The ensemble is popular on the Dutch and international ballet stages. Dancers from all over the world try to get a place in the group, and of those who have succeeded, more than forty have now moved on to the National Ballet.

Hip-hop meets ballet

Echoes of Memories (world premiere) - Joseph Toonga

Music: Mönöchröme by Orin "oriyo" Norbert & Joshua Benjamin

British-Cameroonian choreographer Jospeh Toonga created his first work for the Juniors, especially for this anniversary programme. Toonga comes from the hip-hop scene but has also created choreographies for leading contemporary dance groups, the Royal Ballet School and The Royal Ballet. His productions are characterised not only by their very own style but also by the personal stories he incorporates into them.

Female choreographers

Ephemeral (world premiere) - Wubkje Kuindersma

Music: Amelia Clarkson

Tu Me Manques (world premiere) - Kirsten Wicklund

Music: Giulio Caccini

Young Creative Associate Wubkje Kuindersma is also making a new creation for Tien . She is working with a promising young composer, to be announced later. Canadian dancer and choreographer Kirsten Wicklund is responsible for the third world premiere in Tien, in which the Juniors perform with singers from the National Opera Studio, which is celebrating its fifth anniversary this season.

Versatile talent

Toccata - Premiere for the Junior Company - Krzysztof Pastor

Music: Wojciech Kilar – Piano Concerto No. 1 (1996): Toccata

From Krzysztof Pastor, director of the National Ballet of Poland and former dancer and permanent choreographer of the National Ballet, the Junior Company includes Toccata in the repertoire. It is an athletic work in which the Juniors can showcase their versatile talent.