Princess Beatrix and Princess Margriet of the Netherlands will take in an evening of ballet performances when they attend the 22nd edition of the Dutch Ballet Gala of Stichting Dansersfonds ’79 on 14 November.
Held in Amsterdam, the Ballet Gala will feature performances of Dutch National Ballet, Introdans, National Ballet Academy, Conny Jansen Danst and Scapino Ballet Rotterdam. The event will start with a presentation of two incentive prizes for promising dancers and a prize of merit to a deserving dancer or choreographer.
Princess Beatrix has been a regular attendee of the Ballet Gala over the years.
Stichting Dansersfonds ’79, or “Dancer’s Fund” was founded in 1979 by Dutch National Ballet dancers Alexandra Radius and Han Ebbelaar and is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. It was established to support up-and-coming dancers through scholarships and cash prizes, and also to give financial support to dancers who have had to end their career due to age or injury. The Ballet Gala is one of the organisation’s largest fundraisers.
According to the Dansersfonds ’79, this year’s event will be “an extra festive gala performance, visited by the fine fleur of Dutch dance” in honour of their special 40th anniversary.
“Shortly after her farewell performance with Dutch National Ballet, star ballerina Igone de Jongh dances Hans van Manen’s iconic pas de deux Trois Gnossiennes, together with the young Austrian top dancer Jacob Feyferlik,” the organisation announced.
“Soloists from Dutch National Ballet can be seen in the Grand Pas de Deux from Nutcracker & Mouse King and play parts from George Balanchine’s swinging Who Cares? to songs by George Gershwin. Other highlights within the festive program include Lucinda Childs’ ingenious Petricor and Mauro Bigonzetti’s outspoken Rossini Cards, both performed by Introdans, and selections of the most beautiful fragments from the successful productions Holland by Scapino Ballet Rotterdam and Broos by Conny Janssen Danst.”
