On Thursday 8 December, a special event will be held for pupils, students and staff of the Dutch National Ballet Academy, colleagues from the Academy of Theatre and Dance, sponsors and other parties concerned, to celebrate the occasion of reaching the highest point of the new building for the Dutch National Ballet Academy. Up to now, construction is running to schedule, so the aim is still to move to the completely new premises on Nicolaas Tetterodestraat, in Amsterdam Overamstel, at the start of the 2023/2024 academic year. From then on – for the first time in ages – all the classes for the pre-NBA course, preliminary course and Bachelor’s programme will take place under one roof. Managing director René Vlemmix says, “This excellently equipped dance centre boosts the identity of the Dutch National Ballet Academy on the international scene too.”

The building, designed byPPHP Mollink Soeters, will house seven ballet studios, one of which can be used as a large performance space, as well as classrooms for regular and theory lessons, rest rooms and offices. René Vlemmix says, “We’re getting more facilities and – literally – more room to grow as an academy.”

Social impact
This means, according to Vlemmix, that the academy can respond more to social developments, alongside its existing activities. “It’s important to reflect on our position in society and to see how we can contribute more in that respect, as an academy. One example is giving new target groups the opportunity to come into contact with ballet.” There are also plans to organise dance symposia, for example, in the near future. Vlemmix says, “We want this new building to develop into a thriving dance and expertise centre with national and international impact. And when you walk through the doors, you should really be able to feel that.”

Campaign
At the start of next year – the year in which the Dutch National Ballet Academy celebrates its 35th anniversary – a crowdfunding campaign will be set up to facilitate the final touches to furnishing the new premises. More information about the campaign will be published in the next edition of this newsletter.