Audience rates Introdans 9.0: dance that moves, surprises and connects

October 15, 2026

The audience gives Introdans an average score of 9.0. This is the outcome of an impact study conducted by R2 Research on behalf of the company. Between January and June 2026, visitors to Introdans performances such as The Nutcracker, LARBI, Less is More, Pink Panther Party XXL, Carmen, End of Season and HubClub’26 completed an online survey. The questionnaire was distributed through more than twenty theatres across the Netherlands, and 711 visitors completed it in full. Prior to the survey, the researchers conducted in-depth interviews with regular visitors and with people who had never seen a dance performance. With this study, Introdans aims to make its social impact measurable and to keep monitoring it in the years ahead.

Respondents describe Introdans above all as a surprising, accessible and inclusive top-tier company that deeply moves people with high-quality dance, strong choreography and a complete overall experience.

“Everything comes together: the dancers, the choreography, the music and the overall look and feel.” – respondent

Marieke van ‘t Hoff, Managing Director of Introdans: “That our audience feels so moved and at the same time so at home is exactly what we stand for: dance heritage of the highest level, accessible to everyone. These figures give us a solid foundation to introduce even more people, and young people in particular, to dance.”

Top-level quality
The level of the dancers scores a 9.0, the quality of the performances an 8.9, and sets, staging and costumes an 8.7. The variety of Introdans’ annual programme and the offering for young and old each score an 8.5. Visitors are also outspoken ambassadors for Introdans’ contemporary dance programme. With a Net Promoter Score of +70, a very large majority recommends Introdans to friends, family and colleagues. The company also sees this reflected in rising attendance figures and new visitors finding their way to its programmes. This data comes from the Digitaal Informatie Platform (DIP), where all theatres and producers share attendance figures and audience information.

Dance that touches and connects
For 92 percent of visitors, an Introdans performance is moving. 96 percent find the company surprising and 93 percent call the performances innovative. The impact reaches beyond the evening itself. Two thirds (66 percent) feel that Introdans offers different perspectives, 64 percent experience a connection between people and society, and 60 percent are prompted to reflect. The main reasons for attending are relaxing and enjoying dance (79 percent), a special night out (67 percent) and being touched or moved (65 percent).

“Dance makes me feel that there are still beautiful things in the world. It is something I need in order to be happy.” – respondent

An accessible first introduction to dance
Introdans also brings new audiences to the theatre. For 10 percent of respondents it was their first dance performance ever, and 17 percent were visiting Introdans for the first time. 33 percent of the audience attends only Introdans and no other dance companies. The accessibility of the performances for first-time dance visitors scores an 8.4, and no less than 95 percent feel comfortable and at ease during an Introdans performance.

“Anyone can dance; you can see it and you can feel it.” – respondent

Opportunities: a younger and more diverse audience
The study also points to opportunities. The average visitor is 54 years old and 19 percent are under 40. 71 percent of the audience is female and 17 percent have a vocational education. Introdans continues to work on reaching a new, young and diverse audience through, among other things, accessible behind-the-scenes content for social media, accessible videos and context programmes, young ambassadors, live studio visits and other encounters with new target groups.

The qualitative interviews show that visitors are mainly moved by the interplay of music, choreography, costumes and lighting. Non-dance-goers mainly cite fear of the unknown (having to “understand” or “think”) as a barrier.

“Dance is like camping. If you didn’t do it as a child, there’s a threshold, because you don’t know what to expect. It’s difficult without prior knowledge.” – respondent

Value for the region
The study also shows what Introdans means for the region. 45 percent of the audience comes from the Arnhem/Nijmegen region, and the economic spin-off of the visits is estimated at €2.9 million (an average of €56 per visitor, including tickets, food and drinks).

“Introdans makes the world more beautiful.” – respondent

Introdans has kicked off the new dance season with the production ENERGY. The tour runs until November 25, 2026.