Poll history corporate brochure COMPANY The Dutch National Ballet was formed in 1961 from a merger between the Amsterdams Ballet and the Nederlands Ballet. The Dutch National Ballet is by far the largest dance company in the Netherlands, with nearly 80 dancers among more than 125 members of staff. Despite its name, the Dutch National Ballet is an international company with dancers who either come from, or are regular guests with other prestigious companies such as the Mariinksy ballet (formerly known as Kirov Ballet) in St. Petersburg, The Royal Ballet in LOndon, the English National Ballet, the San Francisco Ballet and the New York City Ballet. The Dutch National Ballet’s home base since 1986 has been one of the largest and best-equipped theatres in Europe: The Music Theatre Amsterdam. The Dutch National Ballet gives more than 70 performances in its base each year, and at least 25 more in other theatres throughout Holland, with live accompaniment from Holland Symfonia. The company is also a regular guest of important venues throughout Europe and the rest of the world, and takes part in prestigious festivals such as the Edinburgh Festival. The company has been directed successively by: Sonia Gaskell (1961 - 1969) Rudi van Dantzig (1969 - 1991) Wayne Eagling (1991 - 2003) Ted Brandsen (2003) Each one has brought their own contribution to the development of the company: from building up its own identity and attracting internationally renowned choreographers, to achieving worldwide fame and advancing the technical standard of the dancers. At the start of season 2003-2004, Eagling has been succeeded by ex-dancer Ted Brandsen, who earned his spurs as an international freelance choreographer and as the artistic director of the West Australian Ballet, before returning to the Dutch National Ballet in 2001 in the position of assistant artistic director and resident choreographer.