The world famous Nederlands Dans Theatre will present the Irish premiere of their second company, NDT 2, at the Dublin's Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in May.

This marks the first performance by a Nederlands Dans Theatre company in Ireland since 2016.

Nederlands Dans Theatre has been one of the leading contemporary dance companies in the world since its foundation in 1959 by Benjamin Harkarvy, Aart Verstehen and Carel Birnie. The group is known for its radical and innovative approach to the art of dance.

NDT 2 was originally established in 1978 as a talent development programme for the main company, but it has since grown to become a significant force in the world of contemporary dance. Dancers in the company learn different dance languages, techniques, and styles while carrying out extensive national and international tours.

In May, eighteen outstanding young dancers of NDT 2 will be performing works by internationally celebrated choreographers Marco Goecke (Germany), Hans van Manen (The Netherlands) and Johan Inger (Sweden).

Goecke has served as an associate choreographer at Nederlands Dans Theatre since 2013 and will now be making his fourth collaboration with NDT2, The Big Crying. In this new work he utilises the breathtaking skills of the entire company to deliver one of his most personal and emotive pieces yet. The Big Crying is a vibrant celebration of life set to songs by American singer-songwriter Tori Amos.

Dutch master choreographer Hans van Manen has been associated with the Nederlands Dans Theatre since its founding in 1959. He began as a dancer before becoming a choreographer and then serving as artistic director from 1961 to 1970. His piece Simple Things was created for NDT2 in 2001 and has been hailed as an artistic triumph in pure simplicity. The work is set to Haydn’s Piano Trio No 28 in E major as well as modern compositions for piano and accordion.

Johan Inger is a former dancer with the Swedish Royal Ballet who has worked extensively with the Nederlands Dans Theatre. Like The Big Crying, Inger's work IMPASSE is making its UK and Ireland premiere. This lively and unpredictable work features exuberant compositions by French-Lebanese jazz trumpeter, Ibrahim Maalouf.

“The members of Dance Consortium are delighted to welcome the NDT 2 company back to the UK and Ireland after too long an absence,” says The Dance Consortium’s Executive Director Ros Robins.

“We would also like to welcome their new Artistic Director Emily Molnar, previously Director of Ballet BC which made such a successful tour of the UK and Ireland in 2018. NDT 2 will present a particularly strong programme of new and existing work, high in emotion and sheer entertainment.”

The Nederlands Dans Theatre’s NDT2 will be performing at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre on Monday May 2nd and Tuesday May 3rd.

Tickets for the performances can be purchased here.