Dutch National Ballet

Hans van Manen in Carré

Hans van Manen

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Dates

30 April – 3 May 2026

Location

Royal Theatre Carré, Amsterdam

Running time

2:00, incl. 1 interval

Tickets

External ticket sales

Dancer: Maia Makhateli | Photo: Hugo Thomassen

A tribute to an unparalleled choreographer

The dance world is on pause for the moment, following the news that master choreographer Hans van Manen has passed away at the age of 93. For more than sixty years, Van Manen was the Netherlands’ most renowned choreographer and he is internationally regarded as one of the great masters of contemporary ballet. With his unmistakably individual movement idiom and his revolutionary ballets, he touched and inspired audiences, dancers and choreographers all around the world. In April and May, Dutch National Ballet is paying tribute to this unparalleled artist in five performances at Royal Theater Carré, in Amsterdam. Featuring Van Manen’s groundbreaking video ballet Live, alongside other iconic works from his oeuvre, we will both commemorate and celebrate the choreographer who has been so profoundly important to our company.

Revolutionary video ballet

In 1979, the world premiere of Hans van Manen’s Live, at Carré, marked a milestone in Dutch theatre history. Those who were there will never forget it. The close-up images of the dancer. Her intimate connection with the cameraman. And how, after one final, intense confrontation with a man, she walks out of the theatre, alone into the night.

The video ballet has been praised as both masterful and groundbreaking. The concept may seem simple, yet it is artistically revolutionary: a ballerina is seen both live on stage and through the lens of a cameraman. What his eye captures appears live on a large video screen. At the same time – both live and in flashback – we witness her encounters with a man; a relationship now marked by pain and aggression.

Back in the round

After its premiere, Live returned many times to the round of Carré. During the 1980s, Dutch National Ballet also presented several other Van Manen programmes at the theatre. Now we return to Carré to bid farewell to our leading light and great source of inspiration in a special homage programme. Alongside Live, this tribute to the master choreographer also features his acclaimed ballets Kammerballett, Two Pieces for HET and Black Cake.

Performance information

Live

Choreography Hans van Manen
Music Franz Liszt
Costume design Keso Dekker
Lighting design Jan Hofstra

Kammerballett

Choreography Hans van Manen
Music Kara Karayev, Domenico Scarlatti, John Cage
Set and costume design Keso Dekker
Lighting design Joop Caboort

Two Pieces for HET

Choreography Hans van Manen
Music Erkki-Sven Tüür, Arvo Pärt
Set and costume design Keso Dekker
Lighting design Jan Hofstra

Black Cake

Choreography Hans van Manen
Music Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Leoš Janáček, Igor Stravinsky, Pietro Mascagni, Jules Massenet
Set and costume design Keso Dekker
Lighting design Joop Caboort

Musical accompaniment Dutch Ballet Orchestra conducted by Karel Deseure

Getting to Carré

From Tuesday 28 April to Friday 8 May, it may take longer than usual to get to Carré. The walking route from the Magere Brug will be closed. You can reach the theatre via Weesperstraat – Nieuwe Achtergracht or Sarphatistraat – Amstel. Please allow extra travel time and bear in mind that the area around the theatre may be busy.

Online programme

In addition to the printed programme, online programme information is also available for this performance. In the online programme, you can read the story of the performance and get a behind-the-scenes look through in-depth stories, articles and interviews with the creators and cast.

View the online programme

Order tickets

This performance is a collaboration between Dutch National Ballet and Royal Theatre Carré, with Dutch National Ballet serving as the responsible producer and Carré handling ticket sales and the venue.

Due to the exceptional demand for Hans van Manen in Carré, an extra performance has been scheduled for Sunday 3 May at 20:00.

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