Dorian

Vibrant mix of hiphop and ballet

Following the successes of Narnia and GRIMM, Dorian is the third joint production by choreographers Ernst Meisner and Marco Gerris. For their adaptation of The Picture of Dorian Gray, the famous book by Oscar Wilde from 1891, the two choreographers have opted for a thriller-like approach, filled with tension and suspense. This time, dancers from Dutch National Ballet will also be joining dancers from the Junior Company and ISH Dance Collective.

Vibrant mix of hiphop and ballet (12+)

In their production, Meisner and Gerris follow the storyline of Wilde’s novel, but place it in an eccentric contemporary setting. The protagonist Dorian goes over the top in his craving for beauty and adoration, and suffers the consequences. He ends up in a downward spiral, becoming trapped in a labyrinth where he can no longer tell reality from fantasy. As in Narnia and GRIMM, Meisner and Gerris once again blend different dance styles in an exciting and vibrant mix of hiphop and ballet.

New music performed live

Joey Roukens, one of today’s best-known young composers in the Netherlands, is writing a new, full-length score especially for Dorian. In recent years, he has composed works for various Dutch and international orchestras, including the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, where he was composer in residence. Meisner and Roukens previously worked together on the ballet In Transit. In the larger theatres, Roukens’ new composition will be performed live by Dutch Ballet Orchestra.

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Oscar Wilde’s philosophical novel The Picture of Dorian Gray is about being totally wrapped up in the pursuit of eternal youth. The protagonist Dorian Gray wants to stay as young and handsome as the portrait painted by his friend Basil, wishing that his likeness in the painting would grow older and uglier in his place.

Ernst Meisner

Choreography

Tickets go on sale on 25 August

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Dance thriller based on the famous book by Oscar Wilde

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Tickets for performances at venues other than Dutch National Opera & Ballet can be purchased at the theatre where the performance will take place. For questions about ticket sales, please contact the theatre in question.

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Tour programme

In addition to the performances in Dutch National Opera & Ballet, Dorian can be seen in various theatres in the country between 19 May and 16 June. Click on the link below for a complete overview of the tour programme.

Tour programme Dorian

Fri 19 May 2023: De Harmonie, Leeuwarden
Sat 20 May 2023: Amare, Den Haag
Sun 21 May 2023: Nieuwe Luxor, Rotterdam
Tue 23 May 2023: Theater de Spiegel, Zwolse Theaters, Zwolle
Thu 25 May 2023: Wilminktheater, Enschede
Fri 26 May 2023: Parkstad Limburg Theater, Heerlen
Sat 27 May 2023: Orpheus, Apeldoorn
Tue 30 May 2023: ITA, Amsterdam
Wed 31 May 2023: Goudse Schouwburg, Gouda
Fri 2 June 2023: TAQA Theater De Vest, Alkmaar
Sat 3 June 2023: Schouwburg, Tilburg
Tue 6 June 2023: Theater De Stoep, Spijkenisse
Wed 7 June 2023: Stadsschouwburg, Groningen
Fri 9 June 2023: Stadsschouwburg, Haarlem
Sat 10 June 2023: Stadsschouwburg, Haarlem
Sun 11 June 2023: Chassétheater, Breda
Tue 13 June 2023: Theater Junushoff, Wageningen
Wed 14 June 2023: Schouwburg Het Park, Hoorn
Thu 15 June 2023: Zaantheater, Zaandam
Fri 16 June 2023: Parktheater, Eindhoven

Dutch Ballet Orchestra

Dutch Ballet Orchestra’s mission is ‘to inspire movement in dance’. Since its inception in 1965, the orchestra has been the proud musical partner of Dutch National Ballet and Nederlands Dans Theater. In every performance, the orchestra searches for inspiring synergy between music and dance, in order to give the audience a magical experience.

Dutch Ballet Orchestra

Led by principal conductor Matthew Rowe, Dutch Ballet Orchestra is the leading orchestra for dance in the Netherlands. The orchestra accompanies performances ranging from traditional ballet to modern dance, alongside and is active in music education and talent development.

Besides performances with Dutch National Ballet and Nederlands Dans Theater, Dutch Ballet Orchestra has a long tradition of innovative – and award-winning – family performances. For instance, Creatures (in collaboration with ISH) received the international Young Audiences Music Award, and the production Hansel and Gretel (in collaboration with Orkater) won various Musical Awards. In these productions, the musicians play from memory, without a conductor and in costumes, so that they form an integral part of the performance. And finally, Dutch Ballet Orchestra has a long-term partnership with the Dutch National Ballet Academy. They are therefore involved in the music curriculum for pupils and students, facilitate student visits to orchestra rehearsals and provide music for the academy’s end-of-year performance, where possible.

hetballetorkest.nl/en