Nederlands Dans Theater A Real Dutch Treat
with Nina Slawek
18JUN09

Dancing In The Straat

June 11th was an evening not soon forgotten by a handful of lucky travel journalists. We began the soiree at the Rosedale home of The Netherlands Consul General for Toronto, Meneer Johan Kramer, for champagne and nibbles. Once sated, we were whisked off to the theatre.

The performance by the renowned Nederlands Dans Theater was part of Toronto’s Luminato Festival and was sold out for all three nights. I can’t think of a better way to have showcased Dutch ingenuity, talent and charisma. The 3 separate pieces were astonishingly artistic and beautifully executed. Previous GG of Canada, Adrienne Clarkson and her husband, author John Ralston Saul, were among the attendees. Needless, to say, we were in privileged company. Our group was also treated to an intermission chat with the Canadian choreographer of The Second Person, Crystal Pite, who explained that one of the most challenging aspects of her work is the attempt to strip meaning and narrative from the physical moves. I can frankly attest to the fact that she succeeded. The abstract movements were pure and simple and exquisite.

Over the course of the evening we learned from Conrad van Tiggelen, North American Director of the Netherlands Board of Tourism, that the landmark Hermitage Amsterdam Museum is re-opening this June 20th, bigger and better than before. It was originally founded to bring the richness and grandeur of Russia’s artistic heritage to Amsterdam – considered one of the West’s most charming capitals. The institution inaugurates its new home with the exhibition At the Russian Court, a dazzling display of more than 1,800 treasures from the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia.

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