Prioritising Dancer Safety at Nederlands Dans Theater with Harlequin Floors

Founded in 1959 and based in The Hague, Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT) has long been at the forefront of contemporary dance. With two companies and a total of 48 dancers, NDT presents more than 150 performances each year across the Netherlands and around the world.

Under the artistic direction of Emily Molnar since 2021, NDT continues to redefine what contemporary dance can be, balancing artistic exploration with talent development.

A Commitment to Creativity 

At its core, NDT’s mission is rooted in innovation and creativity.

As Joost van Hilten, Production and Technical Planning Manager, explains: “Our overall goal is to nurture creativity and connection through dance. NDT creates distinctive dance experiences that offer new perspectives, spark dialogue and reflect the diversity of the world we live in.”

Working with leading international choreographers and artists, NDT builds meaningful connections with audiences and communities both locally and globally.

Prioritising Dancer Health and Safety

For a company that tours extensively and performs physically demanding contemporary repertoire, the quality of the dance floor is critical.

At NDT’s home theatre in Amare, five studios are used for rehearsals and technical preparation. Over the years, NDT has chosen Harlequin floors throughout its studios, particularly Harlequin Reversible as its performance surface. NDT recently renovated one of its studios, which now features a Harlequin Liberty sprung floor with a Harlequin Reversible top surface. Joost said: “I transferred to dance 11 years ago. That was the moment I became more conscious about how important the quality of a dance floor is.”

The Harlequin sprung floor provides essential shock absorption, while the vinyl surface is engineered with carefully controlled slip resistance to support safe, confident movement. Joost explained: “That is why we wanted to add a semi-temporary sprung floor, which can be taken out in case we want to build heavy decors in the studio.”

Touring with Confidence

With two companies, NDT 1 and NDT 2, touring nationally and internationally, consistency of performance conditions is essential. NDT reviewed its touring standards and selected Harlequin as its preferred supplier.

“Our standards in terms of quality and pricing were no longer met, so we switched our preferred supplier for touring floors to Harlequin. After thorough research Harlequin came out on top in terms of price and product quality and availability in the foreseeable future.” – Joost van Hilten, Production and Technical Planning Manager

Touring with Harlequin Reversible ensures a reliable, high-quality surface wherever NDT performs, supporting dancer confidence and ensuring safe performance across a demanding international schedule.

Looking Ahead

As NDT moves forward under Emily Molnar’s leadership, the company is embracing a bold new phase of artistic exploration. Through ambitious creations and collaboration, NDT aims to remain a global leader in contemporary dance.

Sustainability remains central to its future strategy, from rethinking touring models to reducing ecological impact, as well as safeguarding the long term wellbeing of its artists and organisation.

With a clear artistic vision and a commitment to excellence in every aspect of production, Nederlands Dans Theater continues to shape the future of contemporary dance on the global stage.