Jiří Kylián

Jiří Kylián
Name	Jiří Kylián
Birth date	21 March 1947
Birth place	Prague, Czechoslovakia
Nationality	Czech
Occupation	Choreographer, Dancer
Years active	1960s–present
Known for	Choreography for Nederlands Dans Theater

Jiří Kylián (born 21 March 1947) is a Czech-born choreographer and former dancer noted for innovative contemporary dance work and pivotal leadership at the Nederlands Dans Theater. His career spans engagements with major companies such as the Royal Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, and collaborations across institutions including the New York City Ballet and the Paris Opera Ballet. Kylián's repertoire and pedagogy have influenced generations at venues like the Sadler's Wells Theatre, Münchner Kammerspiele, and festivals such as the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Early life and education

Born in Prague when the city was part of Czechoslovakia, Kylián trained at the Prague Conservatory and studied under teachers connected to the National Theatre (Prague). He later pursued studies at the Brno Conservatory and received further instruction in contemporary techniques at institutions linked to the American Dance Festival and the Juilliard School through exchange programs. During this period Kylián encountered teachers and influences associated with the Royal Ballet School, the Kirov Ballet, and pedagogues from the Martha Graham School network, shaping a synthesis of Central European pedagogy and international contemporary practice.

Career with Nederlands Dans Theater

Kylián joined the Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT) as a dancer and rapidly advanced to choreographic leadership, serving as artistic director and resident choreographer through the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Under his tenure NDT toured extensively to companies and venues including the Paris Opera, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Teatro alla Scala, and international festivals such as the Avignon Festival and the Spoleto Festival USA. He expanded NDT's repertoire while integrating commissions from ensembles like the Royal Danish Ballet, the Vienna State Ballet, and guest appearances at institutions like the Bolshoi Theatre and the Komische Oper Berlin.

Choreographic style and major works

Kylián's choreography blends lyrical classical ballet lines with contemporary forms drawn from the traditions of the Martha Graham legacy, the Forsythe school, and the postmodern currents epitomized by companies such as Merce Cunningham Dance Company and Paul Taylor. Signature works include pieces created for NDT and for companies like the Staatsballett Berlin and the Opéra National de Paris, which have entered international repertory and been performed at venues such as the Lincoln Center and the Royal Albert Hall. His major works often explore themes reflected in titles that toured to festivals like the Salzburg Festival, the Bregenz Festival, and the Holland Festival, contributing to cross-pollination between European contemporary ballet and American contemporary dance traditions.

Collaborations and influences

Kylián collaborated with musicians and institutions including the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Berlin Philharmonic, and composers from the Czech Philharmonic milieu, while working with designers tied to the Royal Opera House and filmmakers associated with the Czech New Wave. His creative partnerships involved choreographers and directors from companies such as the Stuttgart Ballet, the New York City Ballet, and the Paris Opera Ballet, and he influenced artists connected to the Nederlandse Opera, Ballets de Monte-Carlo, and prominent choreographers from the 20th-century modern dance scene. Exchanges with institutions like the National Ballet of Canada, the Australian Ballet, and educators from the Royal Ballet School have further disseminated his aesthetic.

Awards and recognition

Kylián received numerous honors from organizations including national ministries and cultural bodies such as the French Order of Arts and Letters, the Order of the Netherlands Lion, and distinctions shared by recipients at institutions like the Arpino Prize and the Golden Mask. His work has been recognized by awards presented in cities including Paris, London, New York City, and Prague, and has been the subject of retrospectives at venues like the Sadler's Wells Theatre and the Musée National d'Art Moderne.

Later projects, teaching and legacy

Following his active directorship Kylián founded initiatives and archives linked to contemporary choreography that collaborate with universities such as the University of Amsterdam, conservatories like the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, and research centers associated with the King's College London and the University of Oxford. He has staged revival productions for companies including the Royal Ballet, the Dutch National Ballet, and the Hungarian National Ballet, and contributed to training programs at institutions such as the Martha Graham School, the Juilliard School, and the Codarts Rotterdam. His legacy continues through festivals, documentary projects shown at the Cannes Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival, and through the ongoing presence of his works in repertoires of major companies like the New York City Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, and Staatsballett Berlin.

Category:Choreographers