Gala

We’re rolling out the red carpet for you. At this sparkling ballet gala, you will experience dance at the very highest level. Alongside a series of surprise ballets, the programme includes two works by Hans van Manen, who passed away on 17 December 2025. During this gala, we pay tribute to our figurehead.

At the heart of the programme is Trilogie, a work he originally created for Nederlands Dans Theater and which, just days before his death, he was still refining. Additionally, the phenomenal The Old Man and Me will be shown; a comic yet deeply moving duet that paints a complete portrait of a relationship.

The evening opens with a Grand Défilé, in which all the dancers of Dutch National Ballet, the Junior Company and the young talents of the Dutch National Ballet Academy take to the stage. After the performances, the celebration continues in our foyer.