On the day that a vote was to be held in The Hague on the new Spui Forum, it has been announced that Robert van Leer is leaving as business director of Nederlands Dans Theater. Van Leer is resigning for purely "personal reasons", according to the press officer of the renowned dance company.
The controversial Spui Forum must be completed for 180 million euros by 2018. For that, NDT needs to temporarily move to another accommodation. Although Van Leer's departure has been known since last week, city newspaper The Hague Central the news out today. Also NRC report of it. According to them, Van Leer would be dissatisfied with the temporary accommodation during the construction of the Spui Forum and the lack of understanding from politicians to pay the price of quality for a top dance company
Nonsense, according to NDT. Van Leer is resigning for personal reasons and nothing else. It is unfortunate that several media outlets are linking the resignation to the hubbub surrounding the Spui Forum. There was also noise in NDT's communication in the recent past, then because of Jiri Kylián's decision not to have any of his works danced by the company for the time being.
While Hague audiences and policiti stumble across the streets because of the prestigious plan for an international theatre, Robert van Leer moves back to London. He is well known there at The Barbican Centre. NDT and artistic director Paul Lightfoot therefore fervently hope that Van Leer will stay on as advisor. Van Leer managed to double sponsorship income, secure partnerships with theatres in New York (Joyce Theatre), Singapore (The Esplanade), St Petersburg (Mariinsky Theatre) and Rio de Janeiro (Theatro Municipal) and implement a deal with Pathé theatres.
Info Robert van Leer:
'Van Leer has extensive experience in the international arts and culture world. For almost two decades now, he has worked in staff and management positions, such as at the renowned Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York. Under his leadership as Head of Music at The Barbican Centre in London, renowned orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic were featured and The Barbican secured its first structural financial contribution from the UK Arts Council. This contribution enabled The Barbican to set up a major international summer festival (BLAZE) in East London.'
(Source: Performing arts agency)
(Portrait photo: Rahi Rezvani)
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