Each year, the dancers of NDT 1 and NDT 2 organize a unique programme: Switch. An evening composed entirely by the dancers themselves, of which all proceeds will go to a charity of their choice. The 2025 edition will take place on January 18.
View the NDT 2 programme Lucid Variations as video on demand in Digital Theatre.
Vanishing Twin – Jiří Kylián
Ties Unseen – Christos Papadopoulos
Clowns – Hofesh Shechter
Dear friends,
It is with pleasure that I warmly welcome you to the first NDT 1 programme of the season 2024-2025: Architecture of the Invisible. Whether this is your first time seeing an NDT performance or you are a long-time fan, you are in for a treat!
This season, we celebrate NDT’s 65th anniversary. To mark this special occasion, I have curated a programme of works representing three generations of contemporary dance that speak to NDT’s creative versatility.
Jiří Kylián’s Vanishing Twin (2008) is a poetic exploration of the self. It is a timeless work that reflects the unpredictable rhythms of human life and symbolizes temporariness and the dark side we share but would rather not reveal.
Back by popular demand, we revisit Clowns (2016) by Hofesh Shechter, which explores the complexities of human existence, the struggle for shared values, and the raw human desire for liberation.
I am also extremely proud to introduce you to a new voice within NDT: internationally renowned choreographer Christos Papadopoulos. In Ties Unseen, a world premiere, he explores subtle, everyday social connections that often go unnoticed, revealing the beauty and complexity of an evolving collective system. Witnessing this creation come to life has been thrilling.
I am delighted to share it with you.
I want to thank Christos, Hofesh, Jiří, our wonderful collaborators, extraordinary dancers, and our dedicated team for their passionate work.
And you, for joining us tonight.
Emily Molnar
Artistic Director
VIEW TONIGHT’S PERFORMING CAST
Please be advised that during Clowns, sound levels may, at times, may be perceived as extremely loud, whilst remaining within legal limits. For those sensitive to loud noises, we recommend taking precautions such as bringing earplugs.
STAGED BY
Lorraine Blouin
MUSIC
Jiří Kylián (concept)
Dirk Haubrich: composition based on J.S. Bach, Die Kunst der Fuge, Fuga a 3 Soggetti (Contrapunctus XIV)
LIGHT DESIGN
Kees Tjebbes
DECOR
Jiří Kylián
COSTUMES
Joke Visser
VIDEO
Tatsuo Unemi, Daniel Bisig
NDT REHEARSAL DIRECTOR
Tamako Akiyama
WORLD PREMIERE
February 7, 2008, Lucent Danstheater , The Hague
DURATION
25 minutes
CAST A
Madoka Kariya, Luca Tessarini, Rui-Ting Yu, Jon Bond, Nicole Ishimaru, Alexander Andison
CAST B
Paloma Lassere, Matthew Foley, Pamela Campos, Emmitt Cawley, Anna Bekirova, Conner Bormann
– an unfinished work –
Vanishing Twin is a medical term for a woman pregnant with twins in an unusual situation where one of the siblings starts oppressing the other until it vanishes completely. I see this phenomenon as a symbol of our darker and even violent character – a characteristic we are reluctant to accept or disclose to others.
The subtitle is “an unfinished work”. Creative people produce many works which they find unfit to be publicised and which are then classified as “unfinished works’’. However, these works hold certain values and they are certainly not lost. They are only hidden for a while. I am very interested in this untold world….!
The beginning of our physical existence is clearly defined by the time and place of our birth but the moment of our death is kept in the dark. We make all kinds of intricate plans to cheat the fate and try to expand or shorten the duration of our life. But whatever we plan, our lives are constantly punctuated by unpredictable rhythms – our heartbeat, breathing, changing of seasons, walking and dancing. In all our life we try to make some kind of sense of this ‘orderly chaos’. We don’t know how much time is left to us to be able to say whatever we need to say….and we will never know the value of the trace we have left behind. Surely I realize, that I have become a little older, writing these words, and so do you, reading them.
– Jiří Kylián, January 2008
“Immerse
moving through the space
searching ,wondering ,responding and existing.
transforming the way we perceive the moment.
Vanishing Twin has been a wonderful journey.
The learning process is fascinating and challenging.
The steps are not just the steps, it’s our intentions and feelings leading into movement. That changes the volume of bodies and space.
I find it exciting that each time this work is different, and I really enjoy it, because it makes me feel so alive.
The experience we share with the audience exists only in the present moment, I think that’s beautiful and unique.”
“Putting together Vanishing Twin with Jiří Kylián has been like stepping into a hall of mirrors—each moment a reflection of the next, bending reality, distorting time, and leaving me in awe of the human body’s potential. Jiří’s works demand not just technical precision but an emotional depth that often feels like peering into the unknown. The unknown? That’s precisely where the magic happens ..
My admiration and connection to Jiří, both personal and professional, have shaped me in ways I’d never anticipated before working with him 8 years ago. He isn’t just about dance; He inspires perspective, patience, and a relentless pursuit of truth in movement. Whether in quiet moments of reflection, conversations about the near and far past or during intense rehearsals, the lessons have been endless—and deeply personal. I’ve come to realize quickly that working with Jiří would be much less about steps and more about the dance of life itself.
Everyone who knows just a fraction of my loves and opinions, is aware that I breathe the deepest respect and love for partnering – and that love finds it’s true home in Jiří’s body of work. His pieces aren’t just about two bodies moving in tandem—they’re about a conversation, a negotiation of weight, trust, and energy. every lift, every connection feels like an exchange, an unspoken dialogue where the silence says more than words ever could.
Partnering under his direction has taught me that it’s not about control, but about letting go, trusting in the strength of the connection. Spending time within Jiří’s choreography over the years has deepened my understanding of what it means to dance with another – to find rhythm in the spaces between us, and to embrace the dance that lives in that in-between.
The mention of my most heartfelt gratitude for my partner Madoka, who never ceases to amaze me with her gifts and unconditional support day in and day out. And our stager Lorraine – who has stood with and by us through every minute of this process, pushing us beyond our abilities and handing us every tool – and more – necessary to embark on this journey that is Vanishing Twin. Off we go, fly we will! Thank you, curtain up!”
ASSISTANT TO THE CHOREOGRAPHER
Georgios Kotsifakis
MUSIC
New composition by Jeph Vanger
LIGHT DESIGN
Eliza Alexandropoulou
DECOR
Christos Papadopoulos
COSTUMES
Marie Gerstenberger
NDT REHEARSAL DIRECTOR
Francesca Caroti
WORLD PREMIERE
September 26, 2024, Amare, The Hague
DURATION
35 minutes
Alexander Andison, Demi Bawon, Anna Bekirova, Jon Bond, Conner Bormann, Pamela Campos, Emmitt Cawley, Barry Gans, Nicole Ishimaru, Chuck Jones, Omani Ormskirk, Kele Roberson, Nicole Ward, Sophie Whittome, Rui-Ting Yu, Zenon Zubyk
Christos Papadopoulos’ new production is co-sponsored by Ammodo.
In his new work Ties Unseen, Christos Papadopoulos delves into our subtle everyday social connections that shape human experiences. It finds its roots in observing the simplicity of shared moments — the unspoken understanding between friends, the unnoticed nods of solidarity among strangers, and the quiet resilience threaded through collective struggles. The choreographer draws from the unadorned fabric of human experience, intending to reveal the beauty within the unremarkable. An ode to invisible forces, it testifies that the most profound connections often go unnoticed, yet intricately shape the tapestry of our lives.
“Being a part of Christos’s process is to shift yourself into a new way of thinking and being. Built on highly specified ways of inhabiting space and linking to those around you, his world offers the kind of enabling restrictions that result in a larger sense freedom.
Set to a gradually evolving electronic soundscape by Jeph Vanger, this piece is a dynamic exploration of how we relate to one another and the evolving nature of human interaction. Every rehearsal has been a deep dive into the essence of transformation, capturing a sense of durational change that reflects the intricacies of our shared experiences. The slow evolution of the choreography mirrors the gradual shifts and connections we form with each other and with the audience.
I hope that as you watch, you feel the energy and depth of our collective journey, and can experience it with us.”
“In Ties Unseen we have created a flexible and ever-evolving system that breathes and moves as one organism. Though it consists of many bodies, our challenge lies in connecting with one another through our eyes. Pushing and pulling each other through the space with our gaze becomes a playful game of action reaction, almost trying to read each other’s minds as you try to persuade someone to come along with you. Simple answers such as ‘yes’ or ‘no’ are impulses to start moving. Individual choices are always secondary to the necessity of the group. We are one body with a collective thinking. For me, a great sense of curiosity arises as soon as I try to connect with my colleagues around me. When dancing this piece, you are left with no choice but to connect with each other and the audience. Only when you are completely present and engaged in the movement can you contribute to the system. Playing this game has been great fun in the studio and I am so excited to take it to the stage!”
CHOREOGRAPHY AND MUSIC
Hofesh Shechter
STAGED BY
Kim Kohlmann
LIGHT DESIGN
Lee Curran
DECOR AND COSTUMES
Hofesh Shechter
NDT REHEARSAL DIRECTOR
Lucas Crandall
WORLD PREMIERE
April 29, 2016, Zuiderstrandtheater, The Hague
DURATION
30 minutes
Please be advised that during Clowns, sound levels may, at times, may be perceived as extremely loud, whilst remaining within legal limits. For those sensitive to loud noises, we recommend taking precautions.
Jon Bond, Matthew Foley, Madoka Kariya, Genevieve O’Keeffe, Omani Ormskirk, Kele Roberson, Theophilus Veselý, Nicole Ward, Sophie Whittome, Zenon Zubyk
….In that City
Where ways are lost
Clown turn into King
Prophet turn to clown….
Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass
British-Israeli Hofesh Shechter is one of England’s most acclaimed artists. In Clowns, his first creation for NDT 1, Shechter explores the line between humour and cruelty. To stirring, hypnotic rhythms of music composed by Shechter himself, the dancers depict an explosion of energy, where playfulness seemingly turns into fighting and shooting. With Clowns, Shechter succeeds in grabbing the spectator from the first moment and not letting go.
“My first expierence of Clowns was as an audience member, seeing the work performed by Hofesh’s company in 2021.
I felt completely fascinated by the distinct physicality, free flowing yet contained and articulate. A language so generous in its humanity that you could forget the dancers were charged by anything other than thought.
Now performing the work, I feel my wonder may not have been so far off. Although we tune our bodies to navigate this specific world, our imagination and clarity of intent are the driving force.
It has been confronting in moments to distill each feeling, repeating lethal actions in as much detail as we dare to imagine, in an effort to find the sensation of violence with 100% belief and commitment while understanding that we are performing the clown performing the violence. A sort of inception of entertainment.
The piece asks us to insist upon each point we make, to be relentless in our pursuit of provoking a response. This is both an intention and a physicality, where we continue to tumble and reignite through the effort.
In moments it feels ambiguous if we are the puppets or the puppeteers? Is it really all just in good fun?
In performing Clowns I enjoy this cathartic relent and the need for surrender and commitment.
I let my mind flood with images and try to wire my senses to my own body, the music and the group around me sharing the experience.”
View more photos in the gallery
