A Sense of the New
 

NDT2 are widely regarded as the most exciting young dance company in the world, and pay a rare visit to Inverness this month. ANDREA MUIR discovers the demanding requirements expected from the young stars of the company
 

THE ENERGY, SKILL AND TALENT that combined in this ‘nursery school’ exploded onto the contemporary dance scene twenty-five years ago, and now NDT2 (Nederland Dans Theater 2) is as critically acclaimed as the group they were supposedly being groomed to join.

NDT2 started as a ‘feeder’ group. It began as an apprenticeship opportunity for talented dancers aged between 17 and 24, so that they could go on to join the ‘grown ups’ in the world-renownedNederland Dans Theater.

‘The dancers have to have excellent classical technique,’ says Gerald Tibbs, Executive Artistic Director of the group, from his hotel room inGlasgow.  ‘The dancers have to have ‘something special’.  They need to be natural movers, have loads of musicality and personality and they need to be able to get on with one another – we work six days a week and the hours are long.’

NDT2 is on tour in the UK and will be performing in Inverness at Eden Court Theatre, the last of five dates in Britain.  In 2003 their performances were sold out, and the 2004 tour promises a ‘breath-taking repertoire which combines cutting edge choreography with passion, humour and tenderness.’

‘We audition every January,’ continues Tibbs, ignoring for the moment the bleep-bleep of his mobile. ‘Usually, we have up to two hundred and fifty dancers from all over the world come to the audition.  The decision who to choose is always a tough one – we see so many excellent dancers.’
 Tibbs can ignore the bleeping no longer and transfers to his mobile to speak with a technician to confirm placing of set and scenery for the opening night in Glasgow’s Theatre Royal. He then returns to the interview with an apology and adds:

‘Our dancers have a certain quality which I encourage.  They have a sense of the new, the different.  This sense is young and dynamic.  They have a sense of adventure that older dancers may not.’

Gerald Tibbs’ own dynamism is very evident as he speaks of the young dancers whom he helps to nurture through, what can be, tough times.

‘Some are only 17 years old and they have never been away from home before and they can get homesick.  Sometimes – they fall in love for the first time…’ He laughs gently, ‘but they’re all smart, intelligent, individuals and I’m proud of what every one of them has achieved, or is achieving.’

The pieces to be performed are all billed as ‘subject to change’.

‘Most of the pieces performed are world premieres.  We do not have a strict ‘set’ that we churn out over and over again.  We let the mood take us.  The choreographers we work with love the fact that the dancers are open to new ideas and, in some cases, certain artistic risks.  The dances are inspired by books or paintings or music – and the dancers are at an age where they will try almost anything.’

NDT2 have been described as ‘vibrant, sexy and stylish… highly accessible and endlessly watchable.’  So, catch them while you can at Eden Court.

© Andrea Muir, 2004

NDT2 perform at the Eden Court Theatre, Inverness, on Friday 4 June and Saturday 5 June, 2004.