No work by Kylián at NDT: a masterstroke?

@tmtheatrenews: At the request v Jirí Kylián, Ned. Dance Theatre will no longer perform choreographies v him for 3 years from Sept 2014." Huh, what?

- Esther Kleuver (@estherkleuver) 10 May 2013

Oh dear. Read in Den Haag Centraal: Nederlands Dans Theater may no longer perform Jiri Kylian's work after 9/2014. - I van Frankenhuyzen (@Frankenhuyzen) 9 May 2013

What happened

• It was decided in 2012 that no work by Kylián  will be seen at NDT.
• May 2013 (one year later) has been announced that no work by Kylián  will be seen at NDT.
• This temporary stop is about one year in, so in 2014.
• After the summer, in September this year, NDT opens with: An evening with Jiri Kylián.
• Jiri declares: it's all old news and there is no conflict.
• Current artistic director Paul Lightfoot says after a year of talking to Kylián he "gets it".

At least we no longer get it. Recently, a business leader in dance expressed sympathy for NDT's marketing department. That should sell programmes with titles like I, II, V, or A and B etc. However, how to properly communicate internal policy or not seems to be an even bigger task.

Masterstroke?

Wisdom of Jiri #Kylian to #NDT 3 years alone. But 3 years is a very long time for us, his audience.

- Joyce Roodnat (@JoyceRoodnat) 10 May 2013

There may be a sophisticated media strategy behind current events. Negative publicity is also publicity. It could be that, behind the scenes, Kylián ends up turning out to be a genius, making a brilliant move by withdrawing his work. This will give the new guard a chance to really get going. Money has to be made.

2018

In 2018, when the curse is lifted, the new Spui Forum will open. You cannot present NDT there Kylián-less. The question is who, as artistic director and supported by which marketing campaign, may make the glorious entrance into the new venue.

Escape clause

One question remains. NDT is not performing Kylián's work for 3 years. Does this also apply to NDT2, the junior company led by former Kylián star dancer Gerald Tibbs?

Update 16-5-2013:

NDT2 also falls under the Kylianban