Arts Center to Host Nederlands Dans Theater

The Nederlands Dans Theater will make its first West Coast appearances in 14 years Oct. 25-30 in the 1994-95 dance season at the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

The Netherlands contemporary dance troupe will offer the full-length “Kaguyahime” (set to music by Japanese composer Maki Ishi) and shorter works, all by company artistic director Jiri Kylian.

The center’s season will open May 3-8 with a return of the Royal Ballet of Great Britain, last seen here in 1991, and will continue with the ninth appearance in Orange County of the American Ballet Theatre, Sept. 20-25. The fifth local engagement of the Joffrey Ballet will conclude the season April 4-9, 1995.

The Royal will bring Kenneth MacMillan’s full-length “Mayerling” (Liszt) and his shorter “The Judas Tree” (Brian Elias); Frederick Ashton’s “A Month in the Country” (Chopin), “The Dream” (Mendelssohn) and “Tales of Beatrix Potter” (John Lanchbery), and selected pas de deux.

Royal dancers scheduled to appear, according to a center spokesman, include Darcey Bussell, Irek Mukhamedov, Zoltan Solymosi and Sylvie Guillem.

ABT will dance the first United States production of MacMillan’s full-length “Manon” (Massenet) and shorter works by other choreographers, to be announced.

The Joffrey will repeat the rock ballet “Billboards,” danced at the center in July. A revival of Massine’s “Les Presages” and other shorter works are also programmed.

Season packages go on sale March 6. Individual tickets will go on sale about six weeks before each engagement.

For a schedule of season events, see F2.