The Dutch National Ballet was formed in 1961 from a merger between the Amsterdams Ballet and the Nederlands Ballet. The Dutch National Ballet is by far the largest dance company in the Netherlands, with nearly 80 dancers among more than 125 members of staff. Despite its name, the Dutch National Ballet is an international company with dancers who either come from, or are regular guests with, other prestigious companies such as the Kirov Ballet in St. Petersburg, The Royal Ballet and English National Ballet in London, the San Francisco Ballet and the New York City Ballet. The Dutch National Ballet’s home base since 1986 has been one of the largest and best-equipped theatres in Europe: Het Muziektheater in Amsterdam. The Dutch National Ballet gives more than 70 performances here each year, and at least 25 more in other theatres throughout Holland, with live accompaniment from Holland Symfonia. The company is also a regular guest of important venues throughout Europe and the rest of the world, and takes part in prestigious festivals such as the Edinburgh Festival.