Nederlands Balletgala
Nov 2
The annual Dutch Ballet Gala returns to the Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam. This is the perfect opportunity to see all the major Dutch companies in one evening.
A benefit performance
- Date
- November 2, 2026
- Duration
- 210 min, no interval
- Genre
- Dance
- Taal
- Dutch
- Location
- Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam, Grote Zaal
On 13 September 1979, Dansersfonds '79 was founded in our theatre. Former ballet stars Alexandra Radius and Han Ebbelaar were celebrating their twentieth anniversary as dancers that day, and decided to spend the gift money they received on a fund to support young and celebrated Dutch dance talent. Now the Dansersfonds returns to our theatre with its annual Dutch Ballet Gala, a benefit performance where you can (re)discover the best of Dutch dance in a single evening.
All major Dutch dance companies
All the major Dutch dance companies will take to the stage during this special gala performance in support of the Dansersfonds. By attending, you not only support the fund, but also get to enjoy a rich and varied programme of dance, ranging from Conny Janssen Danst to Dutch National Ballet, and from Nederlands Dans Theater to Scapino Ballet Rotterdam and Introdans. Highlights in this year's programme include Hans van Manen's peerless Simple Things (Dutch National Ballet), Marco Goecke's powerful and poignant The Big Crying (Nederlands Dans Theater 2), Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui's exquisite In Memoriam (Introdans), and a preview of La Mer, Nanine Linning's new production (new to the Netherlands) for Scapino Ballet Rotterdam.
David Dawson
This year, an important role in the programme is also reserved for choreographer David Dawson, to whom the gala is dedicated this time. Dawson – who emerged from the choreographic breeding ground of Dutch National Ballet, where he remains Associate Artist – has since become one of the most sought-after ballet choreographers of his generation worldwide. During the gala you will see his widely acclaimed duet On the Nature of Daylight, as well as FAUN(E), new to the Netherlands – a distinctive, contemporary interpretation of Vaslav Nijinsky's iconic L'Après-midi d'un faune.
Ukrainian star dancers
This year, the Dutch Ballet Gala also welcomes two Ukrainian star dancers, Vlad & Veronika, who found a new home in the Netherlands after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Their recent performance Revelation made a deep impression on Radius and Ebbelaar, and the duo is also well known for their spine-tingling performances and their overwhelming win on Holland's Got Talent 2025. During this Dutch Ballet Gala, Vlad & Veronika will perform their duet Everglow, from their production Revelation.
Dansersfonds
For more than forty years, the Dansersfonds founded by Radius and Ebbelaar has supported Dutch dancers (and dancers working in the Netherlands), through scholarships, special grants, Encouragement Awards, and Awards of Merit, among other things. The fund depends on sponsorship contributions, private donations, and the proceeds of the annual Dutch Ballet Gala for its activities.
