Dance in the Netherlands
There is great variety in dance in the Netherlands. The traditional dance is the Dutch folk dance; however, this is hardly practiced anymore. Many Dutch practise ballroom dancing, but also tango has a large following.
Many young girls start their dancing career with classical ballet and jazz dance.
Only a few dances are invented by the Dutch. Most of the Folk Dances are Scottish in origin. The Dutch are inventors of Hakken, which was mainly danced in the Hardcore techno and Gabber scene in the 1990s. Jumpen, which was invented in Belgium, developed further in the Netherlands. The Netherlands is one of the leading countries in the Brazilian version of zouk (a successor to lambada).
The reality show and competition Dancing with the Stars has popularized Ballroom dancing and the Dutch version of So You Think You Can Dance helps the popularity of modern dance in the Netherlands. Ice dance has been popularised by the TV shows Dancing on Ice and Sterren Dansen Op Het IJs.
Ballet & Modern Dance
Choreographers
- Annabelle Lopez Ochoa
- Golan Yosef
- Hans van Manen
- Itzik Galili
- Juanjo Arques
- Maurice Causey
- Nanine Linning
- Polly Cuninghame
- Rudi van Dantzig
- Ton Simons
Dancers
- Aart Verstegen
- Aldrico Amando Felida
- Alexandra Radius
- Annemarie Verhoeven
- Benjamin Feliksdal
- Charles Czarny
- Cor van de Stroet
- Derek Blok II
- Gérard Lemaître
- Han Ebbelaar
- Hannie van Leeuwen
- Hans van Manen
- Jaap Flier
- Jacob Taylar
- Job Sanders
- Louis van Amstel
- Mabel Alter
- Marcus van Teijlingen
- Martinette Janmaat
- Mata Hari
- Milou Nuyens
- Mirella Simoncini
- Olga de Haas
- Penny de Jager
- Polly Cuninghame
- Roemjana de Haan
- Romy Haag
- Rudi van Dantzig
- Sara Erens
- Sonia Gaskell
- Sophia Wezer
- Stanley Burleson
- Willy de la Bije
Companies
- Het Nationale Ballet
- Dance Works Rotterdam
- Dansgroep Amsterdam
- De Stilte
- Galili Dance
- Internationaal Danstheater
- Introdans
- Krisztina de Châtel
- Leine & Roebana
- Nederlands Dans Theater
- Scapino Ballet Rotterdam
- Danshuis Station Zuid
Salsa
Choreographers
- Eric Lalta (Salsa Dance Squad - Fantasia)
- Liduina Lovert (Salsa Dance Squad - Fantasia)
Dancers
- Brian Libier & Mechteld Sterk (Three times Dutch Champions, top ten World)
- Taitienne Walter (Tai) & Cristel Beijkirch
- Femke & Manoah (Two times Dutch Champions, top 5 Europe)
- Raùl & Shelina
Companies
- Salsa Dance Squad - Fantasia
Line Dance
Dancers
- Tim Immingk
Dance education
- AHK Amsterdamse Hogeschool voor de Kunsten
- Codarts Rotterdamse Dansacademie
- Fontys Dansacademie Tilburg
- Koninklijk Conservatorium Den Haag
- Vakopleiding Dans Maastricht
- Artez dansacademie Arnhem
Festivals
- Julidans
- Dance4life
- Holland Dance Festival
- Op Roakeldais
- Stilte Festival