Nederlands Dans Theater returns to the Istanbul Theatre Festival after a long absence with a programme of three contemporary dance works, presented at Zorlu PSM Turkcell Stage on Friday 27 November. Widely regarded as one of the world’s leading contemporary dance companies, NDT has spent more than six decades redefining the possibilities of movement through collaborations with some of the most influential choreographers of the modern era. The evening brings together works by Jiří Kylián, Marco Goecke and Noé Soulier, offering a cross-generational perspective on one of contemporary dance’s most significant artistic legacies. Tickets are available via Passo.
Founded in 1959, Nederlands Dans Theater emerged as an alternative to traditional ballet companies, developing a distinctive artistic language that combined classical technique with modern dance. The company’s international reputation was firmly established under the leadership of Czech choreographer Jiří Kylián, whose arrival in the 1970s transformed NDT into a centre for choreographic innovation. His influence continues to shape the company today, alongside the work of artists including Crystal Pite, William Forsythe, Paul Lightfoot and Sol León. Through its main ensemble and the younger NDT 2 company, it has become an important platform for developing new generations of dancers and choreographers.
This programme reflects the breadth of NDT’s artistic vision. Kylián’s choreography explores memory, intimacy and the emotional complexity of human relationships through his characteristically lyrical movement vocabulary. Marco Goecke’s work introduces a sharply contrasting physical intensity, marked by rapid gestures and psychological tension, while French choreographer Noé Soulier contributes a new creation that examines movement itself as a form of thought and perception. Together, the three pieces trace different approaches to contemporary choreography while remaining connected through the company’s enduring commitment to experimentation and artistic precision.
Rather than presenting a single narrative, the evening offers a dialogue between generations of choreographic practice, demonstrating how Nederlands Dans Theater continues to shape the evolution of contemporary dance while remaining rooted in a tradition of constant reinvention.
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