Dutch National Ballet's opener in New York: meandering and unfocused

Dutch National Ballet in Ted Brandsen's The Chairman Dances

Conor Walmsley and Timothy van Poucke in Wubkje Kuindersma's Two and Only

Jacopo Tissi and Olga Smirnova in Jerome Robbins' Other Dances

Giorgi Poskhishvili, Kira Hilli and Lore Zonderman in Alexei Ratmansky's Trio Kagel

Dutch National Ballet in Hans van Manen's Frank Bridge Variations

By Ivy Lin, 22 November 2025

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“The two women (Lore Zonderman, Kira Hilli) were absolutely adorable and really got Ratmansky’s humor”

Reviewed at New York City Center, New York City on 20 November 2025

The Chairman Dances (Brandsen) (Ted Brandsen)

Two and Only (Wubkje Kuindersma)

Other Dances (Jerome Robbins)

Trio Kagel (Alexei Ratmansky)

Frank Bridge Variations (Hans van Manen)

Dutch National Ballet

Olga Smirnova, Dancer

Jacopo Tissi, Dancer

Dutch National Ballet brings much needed heat to this winter season

Mark Vicente, 10th February

The Dutch National Ballet helped shake off those winter blues with a mixed programme that highlighted ballet’s love affair with Latin rhythms and movement.

****1

Polish National Ballet shines in a Beethoven triple bill

Graham Watts, 2nd June

A rich mix of pure dance and powerful music shows the company in very fine form towards the end of a demanding season.

***11

Easter delights in Dutch National Ballet's Spring Special

Graham Watts, 5th April

A complete roster of principal dancers appear in a gala full of the joys of spring.

****1

DNB reprises Mata Hari

Isabella Zijp, 17th October

The story of Mata Hari is a hot topic, now maybe more than ever, and Dutch National Ballet's strong reprise of Ted Brandsen's 2016 ballet comes at the right time.

*****

An homage to Mata Hari

Isabella Zijp, 6th February

A stylised and fast paced production that lacks emotional impact, but is saved by the performance of ballerina Anna Tsygankova

***11

Eine begeisternde Anna Tsygankova als Mata Hari in Amsterdam

Michael Klier, 14th October

Ted Brandsens Choreographie geht dank der Entmystifizierung dieser tragischen Galionsfigur unter die Haut.

****1

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Ivy Lin

Ivy Lin's love of ballet began in high school when at the school dance she quickly realized she had two left feet. One always admires things one cannot do, and so Ivy began to attend dance performances to marvel at the grace and beauty of bodies in motion. Ivy's day job is a biology teacher and after a long day in the classroom she loves to unwind by watching dance. She also enjoys theater, opera, pop and classical music. Ivy has her own blog (www.humbledandoverwhelmed,blogspot.com)