By Steve Sucato for Pointe Magazine
This is an exciting era for Dutch National Ballet. Led by longtime artistic director Ted Brandsen, the company tours to New York City this month—the first time in 40 years—bringing its star dancers and showcasing the company’s growth during his tenure. The performances, November 20–22 at New York City Center, will feature two programs with works by Brandsen, Hans van Manen, Alexei Ratmansky, Wubkje Kuindersma, Jerome Robbins, Mthuthuzeli November, and Jiří Kylián.
The tour serves as a testament to Brandsen’s leadership as he prepares to step down next summer after more than two decades. His exit is in keeping with Dutch government policy, which ends contracts of subsidized organizations’ employees at age 67. “I am very fortunate to have been able to be in this position for a long time and do this work I absolutely love,” he says. “It’s time to give this privilege over to someone else.”
That someone is Ernst Meisner, DNB’s associate director of talent development and the artistic director of its junior company. The organization’s board of directors chose Meisner last December after an international selection procedure.
“I was quite happy with the decision,” says Brandsen. “From the start, I told the board that you already had the right person here who is smart, knows the company, and has a great vision for it. Ernst is going to bring new things, but also ensure a certain amount of continuity.”
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