History was made in the world of ballet in Japan with the gala performance of the two Nederlands Dans Theater companies at Saitama Arts Theater April 23. For the first time ever, the young and veteran companies, NDT II and NDT III, performed together, in this case to commemorate the 400 years of bilateral ties between Japan and the Netherlands in the ongoing "Holland Week" of special events celebrating diplomatic, business and cultural links.
And for perhaps the first time, ballet here was put to political use in celebrating the relations between the two countries. This merited the attendance of His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Frederick of the Netherlands, and Their Imperial Highnesses Prince and Princess Akishino, with all the pomp and circumstance of battalions of flunkies and security personnel and many of the audience in black-tie and evening dress.
Despite the formality of the situation, the audience reaction to what was arguably some of the finest dancing to be seen in this country was formidable. As some of the programming was a repeat of the NDT II program some three years ago in Japan, the main excitement was generated by the nine dancers appearing with the youth arm of the modern dance company.