It is with great sadness that we have learned of the passing of Hans van Manen, the grand master of contemporary ballet. Hans van Manen was the most important choreographer the Netherlands has ever known. His ballets are not only part of the repertoire of the Dutch National Ballet, the Nederlands Danstheater and Introdans, but are also performed by more than a hundred international companies.

Hans van Manen had been the patron of the Dutch National Ballet Academy of the Academy of Theatre and Dance since 2013 and was closely involved with the academy. In our annual end-of-year performance, Dancers of Tomorrow, his ballets are the sparkling highlight of the evening. In 2024, the Associate Degree students had the honour of dancing parts from his ballet 5 Tango’s during the Gala des Écoles de Danse du XXIe siècle at the Palais Garnier in Paris. Hans worked with the students himself, who then performed the entire ballet during Dancers of Tomorrow. In 2025, the students of the Preliminary Course danced the challenging choreography Unisono. This ballet, with minimal – but according to the master choreographer “extremely difficult” – steps, was once created by Hans especially for young students of the Royal Conservatoire's Dance Department in The Hague and has been part of the Dutch National Ballet Academy's repertoire for many years. 

The Dutch National Ballet Academy is honoured that Hans van Manen was present at the opening of our new building on Nicolaas Tetterodestraat in 2024, attended by Her Majesty Queen Máxima. We are grateful for his many years of close involvement with the academy and will greatly miss his enthusiasm and support towards the academy's young talents.

Our sympathies go towards his husband Henk van Dijk, his loved ones and those close to him.

Pupils, students and alumni, artistic directors, teachers and staff, 
Dutch National Ballet Academy
Academy of Theatre and Dance 
Amsterdam University of the Arts