Nederlands Dans Theater’s Female General Director Leaves

Amsterdam’s resident company with an internationally renowned reputation is saying goodbye to its female leader. In a statement from the Supervisory Board of the company, Pauline van der Meer Mohr wrote:

Janine Dijkmeijer, General Director of Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT) since 2014, will resign from her position after this season 2018/2019.

The Supervisory Board is grateful for what has been achieved under Janine’s management. The company is in good shape, with a solid financial position, excellent occupany rates and visiting numbers, and a world-class reputation.

Janine Dijkmeijer: ‘It was an honor to work for this beautiful, passionate company and I look back with pride and satisfaction on what has been achieved in recent years. I leave the organization with peace of mind and will spread my wings on my way to a beautiful new challenge.’

More information about Janine’s successor will be shared in due course.

This comes during the company season that features a surprisingly small amount of female work. The Settle for More performance features no young women choreographers on its roster, instead providing choreographic opportunity to two young men in the company. The two world premieres by Bryan Arias and Felix Landerer will accompany a piece by associate choreographer Marco Goecke and a quartet by Hans van Manen. The Up & Coming Choreographers in June/July will feature three young male choreographers and no females. The program will allow Juliano Nunes, Ihsan Rustem and Dimo Milev to create their own ballets with full control and resources provided.

As the company turns a page to new leadership, we hope to see another woman take the role of General Director and a more equitable production in next year’s Up & Coming Choreographers performance. In a year when companies are doing so much to give emerging female choreographers an equal shot, Nederlands Dans Theater falls behind.

See the resignation announcement on the company’s website.

See the Up & Coming Choreographers description here.