6 Tips for a successful gala. (Ballet gala of the Dancers' Fund '79)

A gala should be festive. So the Ballet Gala of Dancers' Fund '79 Foundation celebrates.  On Monday 20 January 2014, the fund's 17th gala took place at the DeLaMar theatre in Amsterdam, Joop van den Ende's glamorous stronghold.

A few tips for a successful gala.

1: Know who is giving you an award

The fund set up thirty-five years ago by Han Ebbelaar and Alexandra Radius provides a huge service to the dance world. Almost every Dutch talent can count on support thanks to the fund: scholarships, financial injections or recognition with awards. Even I have one.

2: Know who you are asking for a price

A gala is expensive, but you also raise money. Guests could make a "tax-friendly annuity donation" starting from a thousand euros. Donating dance enthusiasts need not worry about their return on investment not to worry: talent on stage visibly gets further with money.

3: be royal

Princess Beatrix? Check.

4: be vulnerable

The gala begins sober and subdued, with star dancer Igone de Jongh of the Dutch National Ballet sitting lonely in the middle of the stage. A reference to financially austere times. And then: at the end, Scapino Ballet Rotterdam closes the varied gala with schwung, craziness and grandeur, with a movement from Le Chat Noir. Because the future should be festive.

5: show class

Apart from the top Dutch companies, Dutch Marijn Rademaker, principal at the Stuttgartt Ballet. The blonde god has rock-solid technique, charisma and an enviable buttock. The latter stood out because of a pair of tights that mostly showed off the bandage. Or what holds those together. Still, thanks to his class in a dance duet with the aptly-named Igone de Jongh, Rademaker managed to take the audience into higher spheres.

6: show what you have

Besides the top four Dutch dance companies (the Dutch National Ballet, Nederlands Dans Theater, Introdans, Scapino Ballet Rotterdam), the new Junior Company on. No one is inferior to each other and the level is high. The gala gives a perfect presentation of the quality of Dutch dance. Fans will see academic dance, original dance by 'people with disabilities' and bombastic contemporary dance. The Netherlands is rich. Also in dance culture.