Stadsdeel Zuid and the National Ballet Academy invest in young talent

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Stadsdeel Zuid and the National Ballet Academy are working together to develop young dance talent. The National Ballet Academy educates talented children to become professional dancers. Training for a career as ballet dancer is demanding and commences at the age of ten. Stadsdeel Zuid provides structural funding to make this specialized form of education possible.

Stadsdeel Zuid and the National Ballet Academy are working together to develop young dance talent. The National Ballet Academy educates talented children to become professional dancers. Training for a career as ballet dancer is demanding and commences at the age of ten. Stadsdeel Zuid provides structural funding to make this specialized form of education possible.

In Amsterdam Zuid, children follow the preparatory training of the National Ballet Academy in special classes at the Olympiaschool (primary education) and the Gerrit van der Veen College (secondary education). The aspirant dancers follow an intensive daily dance training in combination with regular education. The National Ballet Academy creates an environment in which young talented children are given the opportunity to dance ultimately at the level of the Dutch National Ballet. Artistic director Christopher Powney: “We strive to attain the highest standard and offer our students a safe, caring and stimulating environment in which they can realize their potential – as dancer, artist and as a person.”

It is very important to Stadsdeel Zuid that this form of excellent education remains possible. For that reason it has put up a structural subsidy of € 30.000. According to city councilor Simone Kukenheim: “Offering tailor made education for talented pupils is consistent with the vision of the municipality regarding high quality and differentiated education.”

Several times per year the children of the preliminary year perform in major productions of the Dutch National Ballet and the final production of the National Ballet Academy. This spring they will feature in Romeo and Julia by the Dutch National Ballet, in a widely  acclaimed choreography by Rudi van Dantzig.
•    14 March through 1 April in Het Muziektheater, Amsterdam

In June the young dancers will display their skills during the final production, Dansers van Morgen. You will get to see all generations on stage, from the youngest pupils to the dancers who graduate this year.  
•    27 and 28 June in Stadsschouwburg, Amsterdam

fotografie: Antoinette Mooy

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