Announcing the Program

Announcing the Program!

This year, the Nederlandse Dansdagen will descend on Maastricht for the 26th time, with this edition paying extra attention to groundbreaking hip-hop theater dance in the Netherlands. From theaters to hidden gems in the city, from the 'Danstent' on the Vrijthof to performances and inspiring roundtable discussions - the 2023 Nederlandse Dansdagen will bring dance to life.

Under the motto Dance with me, artists, companies, amateurs and professionals will be brought together. From classical ballet to urban, from renowned ensembles to emerging choreographers, from theater to film and a children's and youth program. View the festival program here and read the new Danskrant here.

25 years of hip-hop theater dance

On August 11, 1973, hip-hop was born at a legendary party in New York, in the apartment of Cindy and Clive Campbell. On the genre's 50th anniversary, the Netherlands has its own party to celebrate: 25 years of hip-hop dance theater. De Nederlandse Dansdagen has embraced this dance style for years and is putting hip-hop in the extra spotlight this time. It is difficult to choose from the varied program, but one of the highlights: a special battle of festivals The Notorious IBE and Open Your Mind on Saturday, September 30 in the Danstent, with the lecture A Dutch History of Breaking beforehand. Get in the mood with the ND podcast 'Van straat naar podium, 25 jaar hiphop danstheater', available from September 4 at nederlandsedansdagen.nl. Presented by dance and theater journalist Charissa Promes, it features interviews with founders of hip-hop in the Netherlands and hears how the genre developed into an art language. With in the first episode: Nita Liem and Bart Deuss of the former hip-hop dance company Don't Hit Mama.

Six premieres

But there is more to see and hear besides celebrating hip-hop. No fewer than six dance performances will premiere during the Nederlandse Dansdagen. Conny Janssen Danst and KORZO are showing new choreography talent in DANSLOKAAL 11 and DANSCLICK 25. Winner of the Innovation Award Nederlandse Dansdagen Maastricht 2022, Simon Bus, will premiere SIX PORTRAITS in the Bonnefantenmuseum. In this performance he brings together five makers from his social media network physically for the first time and has them collaborate on the spot to create a new work.

Once and exclusively for Dance Days, top Dutch choreographers Imre and Marne van Opstal present two of their greatest international successes. The Dutch premieres of their performances The little man by the Nationaltheater Mannheim and I'm afraid to forget your smile by the Hessisches Staatsballett are absolute highlights.

In addition, we will see premieres by ARK/Connor Schumacher & Theater Babel and three new Virtual Residencies.

Gala & Dance awards

On Friday, September 29, our country's most important dance awards will be presented at the Nederlandse Dansdagen Gala in Theater aan 't Vrijthof. The Nederlandse Dansdagen Maastricht Innovation Award gives a boost to the genre by supporting emerging talent. The prestigious VSCD Swans honor and celebrate top achievements within Dutch dance, and State Secretary Gunay Uslu (Culture and Media) will be present and award the Swan for Most Impressive Youth Dance Production.

During the Gala we will also see performances by Introdans and Scapino Ballet, a piece from Avatāra by Shailesh Bahoran and Duda Paiva and the Golden Swan winner of 2022, Lloyd Marengo, with the Soweto Skeleton Movers.

The festival closes on Oct. 5 with the performance CONTROL by Maas theater and dance and 155. Expect a medley of breakdance, physical comedy, live music, film and bizarre humor. 

This year's Nederlandse Dansdagen will take place from Friday, Sept. 29 through Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023. Ticket sales for the entire festival program start on Saturday, September 2 and are available at nederlandsedansdagen.nl.