realizing the importance of education of young dancers, jiří kylián and carel birnie, the managing director of ndt, have decided in 1978 to create a new company - ndt ii, in which young people would get the opportunity to develop their skills and talents. after many years of directorship, kylián saw the departure of many fine and interesting performers. it was in 1991 that he decided to create a small group for dancers, who find themselves in the precarious age between "forty and death". the world premiere of this “senior company” was created by choreographers: hans van manen, mats ek, william forsythe and jiří kylián. the original dancers were: sabine kupferberg, alida chase, gérard lemaitre and niklas ek. the importance of this new development in dance was instantly recognized by the public as well as by the media.