About Jirí Kylián 

The world-renowned choreographer Jirí Kylián (Czechoslovakia, 1947) has been artistic director of Nederlands Dans Theater for nearly a quarter century. 

He started his dance career at the age of nine, at the School of the National Ballet in Prague. In 1962 he was accepted as a student at the Prague Conservatory. He left Prague when he received a scholarship for the Royal Ballet School in London in 1967.  After this, he left to join the Stuttgart Ballett led by John Cranko. Kylián made his debut as a choreographer here with Paradox for the Noverre Gesellschaft. After having made three ballets for Nederlands Dans Theater (Viewers, Stoolgame and La Cathédrale Engloutie), he became artistic director of the company in 1975. In 1978 he put Nederlands Dans Theater on the international map with Sinfonietta. That same year, together with Carel Birnie, he founded Nederlands Dans Theater II, which served as a bridge between school and professional company life and was meant to give young dancers the opportunity to develop their skills and talents and to function as a nurturing ground for young talent. He also initiated Nederlands Dans Theater III in 1991, the company for older dancers above 40 years of age. This three-dimensional structure was unique in the world of dance. After an extraordinary record of service, Kylián handed over the artistic leadership in 1999, but remained associated to the dance company as house choreographer until December 2009. 

Jirí Kylián has created nearly 100 works, many of which are performed all over the world. Kylián has not only made works for Nederlands Dans Theater, but also for the Stuttgart Ballet, the Paris Opéra Ballet, Bayerisches Staatsoper Münich, Swedish television and the Tokyo Ballet. Kylián has worked with many creative personalities of international stature – composers: Arne Nordheim (Ariadne 1979), Toru Takemitsu (Dream Time 1983) – designers: Walter Nobbe (Sinfonietta 1978), Bill Katz (Symphony of Psalms 1978), John Macfarlane (Forgotten Land 1980), Michael Simon (Stepping Stones 1991), Atsushi Kitagawara (One of a Kind 1998), Susumu Shingu (Toss of a Dice 2005), Yoshiki Hishinuma (Zugvögel’ 2009). 

To this day, Kylián’s masterpieces are frequently performed by numerous dance companies and schools around the world. 

About George Balanchine

George Balanchine is widely regarded as one of the most influential choreographers in the history of ballet, known for redefining the art form in the 20th century. Born in St. Petersburg, he was immersed in music from an early age and received extensive training in both dance and musical composition, which later shaped his unique choreographic style. After studying at the Imperial Ballet School and the state Conservatory of Music, Balanchine began his career performing with the Mariinsky Theatre before joining Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes in Paris. There, he quickly rose to the position of ballet master, and following an injury that limited his dancing, he devoted himself fully to choreography, creating innovative works across Europe and collaborating with leading artistic figures of the time.

In 1933, Balanchine’s career took a pivotal turn when he partnered with American arts patron Lincoln Kirstein, who invited him to the United States to help establish a distinctly American ballet tradition. Together they founded the School of American Ballet in 1934 and eventually the New York City Ballet in 1948, where Balanchine would serve as artistic director for the rest of his life. Over his prolific career, he created hundreds of works, blending classical technique with modern innovation in a style often described as neoclassical. His choreography emphasized musicality and movement over narrative, helping transform ballet into a more abstract and contemporary art form while solidifying his legacy as the founder of America’s foremost ballet company.

About Lynne Taylor-Corbett 

Lynne Taylor-Corbett was a visionary creative force whose dynamic career as a director, choreographer, performer, and writer left an indelible mark across Broadway, ballet, film, and beyond. Tony-nominated for Swing!, she crafted bold, high-energy productions that captivated audiences, from Broadway hits like Titanic and Chess to innovative off-Broadway works and new musicals, including Distant Thunder. A former dancer, she brought a performer’s vitality to choreography seen at New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and on global stages and broadcasts. Her work reached wide audiences through film credits including Footloose, My Blue Heaven, and Bewitched. Renowned for her versatility, artistry, and commitment to storytelling across genres, Taylor-Corbett’s legacy continues to inspire across the worlds of dance, theater, and film.