Dates

3 Feb-17 Mar 2024

Location

Tour, The Netherlands

Running time

1:30, incl. 1 interval

Tickets

external sales

tien jaar junior company confetti

Junior Company’s 10th anniversary

This season, Dutch National Ballet’s Junior Company is presenting an extra festive touring programme to celebrate the tenth anniversary of its foundation and of its artistic director Ernst Meisner. It comprises three completely new creations, plus a piece that the Juniors are dancing for the first time, as well as Valse Fantaisie, a graceful yet very demanding classical gem by the master choreographer George Balanchine.

Photo: Marta Syrko

Junior Company’s 10th anniversary

Ten years ago, even the initiators – Ted Brandsen and former artistic director of the Dutch National Ballet Academy Christopher Powney – could never have imagined just how successful the Junior Company would be. The ensemble is in great demand at ballet venues in the Netherlands and abroad. Dancers from all over the world try to secure a place in the group, and more than forty of those who were successful have now moved up to join Dutch National Ballet’s main company.

 

Hiphop meets ballet

Especially for this anniversary programme, the British-Cameroonian choreographer Joseph Toonga is making Echoes of Memories, his first work for the Juniors. Toonga’s roots are in the hiphop scene, but he has also created works for leading contemporary dance groups, the Royal Ballet School and The Royal Ballet. His productions are characterised not only by his very individual style, but also by the personal stories he incorporates into them.

 

Female choreographers

Young Creative Associate Wubkje Kuindersma is also creating a new work for Ten, in collaboration with a young promising composer, who is still to be announced. The third world premiere in Ten is by the Canadian dancer and choreographer Kirsten Wicklund, in which the Juniors will perform alongside singers from Dutch National Opera Studio – which is celebrating its fifth anniversary this season.

 

Versatile talent

Another addition to the Junior Company’s repertoire is Toccata, by Krzysztof Pastor, director of Polish National Ballet and former dancer and resident choreographer with Dutch National Ballet. It is an athletic work, which allows the Juniors to display their versatile talent.

Credits

Toccata
Premiere for the Junior Company
Choreography  Krzysztof Pastor
Music  Wojciech Kilar – Piano Concerto No.1 (1996): Toccata
Staging  Simonetta Lysy
Costume design  Krzysztof Pastor
Lighting design  Pawel Piotr Jasiński

Valse Fantaisie
Choreography  George Balanchine
Music  Mikhail Glinka – Valse-Fantaisie in B minor (1856)
Costume design  Oliver Haller
Lighting design  Wijnand van der Horst

Echoes of Memories (world premiere)
Choreography  Joseph Toonga
Music  Mönöchröme by Orin (oriyo) Norbert & Joshua Benjamin
Assistant to the choreographer  Amanda de Souza
Ballet master  Michele Jimenez
Costume design  Jessica Xavier
Lighting design  Wijnand van der Horst

Ephemeral (world premiere)
Choreography  Wubkje Kuindersma
Music  Amelia Clarkson

Tu me manques (world premiere)
Choreography  Kirsten Wicklund
Music  Giulio Caccini

Online programme

Along with the printed programme book, we also offer online programme information for this performance. The online programme will take you behind the scenes with in-depth stories, articles, and interviews with the creators and cast.

FOUR CONTEMPORARY PREMIERES AND ONE CLASSIC MASTERPIECE

Ten - trailer

Trailer Tien
Echoes of Memories
Echoes of Memories - Ten - DNB Junior Company (2024) | Photos: Altin Kaftira
Echoes of Memories
Echoes of Memories
Tu me manques
Tu me manques - Ten - DNB Junior Company (2024) | Photos: Altin Kaftira
Tu me manques
Tu me manques
Toccata
Toccata - Ten - DNB Junior Company (2024) | Photos: Altin Kaftira
Toccata
Toccata
Ephemeral
Ephemeral - Ten - DNB Junior Company (2024) | Photos: Altin Kaftira
Ephemeral
Ephemeral
Ephemeral
Valse Fantaisie
Valse Fantaisie - Ten - DNB Junior Company (2024) | Photos: Altin Kaftira
Valse Fantaisie
Valse Fantaisie
Behind the scenes - Tu me manques
Behind the scenes Echoes of Memories
Behind the scenes - Toccata
Behind the scenes - Ephemeral
in the media
Recensies

The dancers of Dutch National Ballet's Junior Company shine in anniversary programme 'Ten'

5 February

The anniversary of the now 10-year-old Junior Company [...] is a tasty potpourri of ballets in different styles. [...] this is definitely the future of dance.

28 January

Junior Company's anniversary programme has an unashamedly triumphant climax

5 February

Hip-hop choreographer Joseph Toonga offers the juniors exactly what they need

5 February

With the five ballets so much their own, this anniversary programme is rightfully a celebration of dance. They are still performing [Ten] throughout the Netherlands. [until 17 March]

3 February

5 reasons to look forward to ... Ten

Tien jaar Junior Company

Tien jaar Junior Company
Caroline Sayo Iura

Ernst Meisner and Caroline Sayo Iura on 10 years Junior Company

Echoes of Memories - Joseph Toonga
Rehearsal - Echoes of Memories - Joseph Toonga - Tien (tournee 2024) | Photos: Altin Kaftira
Repeteren voor Tien
Rehearsal - Echoes of Memories - Joseph Toonga
Tu Me Manques
Rehearsal - Tu Me Manques - Kirsten Wicklund
Repetitie Valse Fantaisie
Rehearsal - Valse Fantaisie - George Balanchine
Valse Fantaisie - Balanchine
Rehearsal - Valse Fantaisie - George Balanchine
Valse Fantaisie - Balanchine
Rehearsal - Valse Fantaisie - George Balanchine
Repetitie JC voor Tien
Rehearsal - Ephemeral - Wubkje Kuindersma
Ephemeral - Wubkje Kuindersma
Rehearsal - Ephemeral - Wubkje Kuindersma
Ephemeral - Wubkje Kuindersma
Rehearsal - Ephemeral - Wubkje Kuindersma
Ephemeral - Wubkje Kuindersma
Rehearsal - Ephemeral - Wubkje Kuindersma
Toccata - Krzysztof Pastor
Rehearsal - Toccata - Krzysztof Pastor
Tu Me Manques - Kirsten Wicklund
Rehearsal - Tu Me Manques - Kirsten Wicklund
Tu Me Manques - Kirsten Wicklund
Rehearsal - Tu Me Manques - Kirsten Wicklund

Ten - Teaser

Artistieke promo
Five dancers with gold coloured background
Junior Company tour - Blink (2023) | Photo: Michel Schnater
Duet
Promise (2023) | Photo: Michel Schnater
the group in black
nosotros (2023) | Photo: Michel Schnater
two couples
Pas de quatre (2023) | Photo: Michel Schnater
Junior Company tournee 2023
Junior Company tour 2023 | Photo: Michel Schnater

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