In the summer of 1991 Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam (Municipal Theatre of Amsterdam) and Van Baasbank & Baggerman initiated Julidans with three foreign dance companies. Julidans has evolved to a highly acclaimed international dance festival. The festival has a varied program with contemporary dance performances of all different kinds. Julidans is looking for productions of a high artistic level with a theatrical feeling to them.  The festival presents a selection of controversial, unconventional and surprising performances and has introduced a sumptuous amount of productions for the first time in The Netherlands. Not only the big names are invited; also new talents are presented in the various venues.

In 1997 the collaboration with the pop-temple Paradiso started and the following year Theater Bellevue joined the festival. After that, two other venues were added: Vondelpark Open Air Theatre and multicultural centre Melkweg Theater (Milkyway). In 2007 Bijlmerparktheater (formerly Krater Theater) located in Amsterdam South-East was added. Here (youth) dance performances are staged and workshops are organized.

New since 2007 is Julidans Next. Various well-known choreographers lend with their performances weight to the festival. But who do they think are important for the future and development of dance-art? These choreographers have been challenged to introduce a talented choreographer, like the support-act for a rockband. I Like To Watch Too is a nocturnal dance event that is held in the whole building of Paradiso.

As in previous years, Julidans works together with Cinedans. Cinedans is an international dance film and video festival that is expanded with debates and seminars since 2006. The Henny Jurriëns Stichting offers workshops given by choreographers participating in Julidans. New since 2007 is Julidans Dinnerstories. Those informal gatherings combine lectures with a meal and involve choreographers that are working under special circumstances.