Dans! van Manen

During ‘Dans! van Manen’, the focus is on the work of choreographer Hans van Manen. Van Manen, who passed away in December 2025, left behind an extensive body of work that has influenced generations of dancers and choreographers and is still being performed worldwide.

Dance, stories and conversations
During this afternoon, presenter Rinus Sprong brings together dance, stories and conversations. Creators, dancers and others involved will talk about their personal connection with Van Manen and the significance of his work. Amos Ben-Tal, Wubkje Kuindersma and Raphael Coumes-Marquet, amongst others, will join the discussion.

Various companies will be performing on stage, each showcasing a different aspect of their work and influence. The Dutch National Ballet will perform *Simple Things* and Introdans will dance *Polish Pieces*. Ballett am Rhein rounds off the afternoon with *Dances with Piano*, an adaptation of *Dances with Harp*, which Van Manen created for the company in 2019 and which is one of his final complete works.

From then to now
The Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT) is also part of the programme with *De Maan in de Trapeze*. This piece was already part of NDT’s very first performance in 1959 and will be presented in video form this afternoon.

In addition, ‘Entanglement’ by Wubkje Kuindersma is having its Dutch premiere. Kuindersma originally created the work for the National Ballet of Portugal and was strongly inspired in her creative process by Hans van Manen. In this way, the programme not only showcases its own repertoire, but also demonstrates how his influence lives on in a new generation of creators.