Set Designer

Choreographer

Jiří Kylián is one of the legendary figures of the international dance scene. For over three decades, he shaped the artistic profile of the Nederlands Dans Theater, which under his direction developed into one of the world’s leading contemporary dance companies. What unites Kylián’s choreographies is their poignant beauty and a lightness of movement that goes hand in hand with deep musicality, expressive emotionality, and profound introspection. In BELLA FIGURA (1995), Kylián embarks on a fascinating journey through time and thought, once again engaging with fundamental questions of human existence and seeking to transcend the rigid boundaries between dream and reality, illusion and truth. Set to a blend of early and contemporary music – Vivaldi, Pergolesi, Lucas Foss – this work, now part of the international repertoire, brings together breathtaking duets, trios, and quartets.

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Three masterpieces

Cologne Opera

The first has been conceived by Robert Bondara, a Polish choreographer, stage director and teacher, formerly a dancer with the Polish National Ballet and since 2018 director of the Poznan Grand Theatre Ballet.

Avant-Garde

National Theatre Prague

The ballet company’s second major premiere of the 2025/2026 season will not be a single full-length production, but rather an evening composed of several works by different choreographers. The ensemble will present pieces in modern and neoclassical dance styles, showcasing the distinctive authenticity of each choreographer’s movement language—yet connected by the shared theme of the inner world, Czech roots, and the Czech spirit.

Inside

Theater of JK Tyl New Stage

Featuring works by Jiří Kylián, Hans van Manen, and Marco Goecke, this evening brings together three of the most significant styles in dance history and showcases a richly varied array of choreographic styles set to a diverse mix of music ranging from baroque to blues.

Van Manen/Kylián/Goecke

Theater Basel

Jiří Kylián created this ballet for the second centenary of Mozart’s death. For his work he chose the slow parts of two of Mozart’s most beautiful and popular piano concertos. The choreography includes six men, six women and six foils. The foils have the function to be actual dance partners, and, at times, seem more unruly and obstinate than a partner of flesh and blood. They visualize a symbolism, which is more present than a story line. Aggression, sexuality, energy, silence, cultivated senselessness and vulnerability — they all play a significant part.

Petite Mort

Lincoln Center

William Forsythe returns to Boston with the dynamic and masterful ballet, Blake Works III (The Barre Project). This work pushes our artform into new territory yet again. The masterpiece was created for Boston Ballet in 2022 and is set to the propulsive and beautifully structured music of composer James Blake. An absolute powerhouse of dance, it is riveting to watch Boston Ballet dancers master Forsythe’s challenging and innovative technique.

Spring Experience

Citizens Bank Opera House

Dancing  Dutch  brings together four choreographers who, despite their different origins, are all rooted in our country and celebrated their first major successes here. For the first time, the National Ballet will dance a creation by Jiří Kylián , the choreographer who gave Nederlands Dans Theater international success for more than thirty years. In addition, this program includes a masterpiece by the Netherlands' most famous choreographer, Hans van Manen , and premiere ballets by Associate Artist David Dawson and Young Creative Associate Milena Sidorova .

Dancing Dutch

National Opera & Ballet

Bespoke brings a fresh mixed repertory program with three ballets never-before-seen on the Wortham Theater stage. Continuing the long-standing commitment to bringing Jiří Kylián’s work to Houston, the program adds another of his works to the Company repertoire with the premiere of Overgrown Path. Set to the deeply moving score from composer Leoš Janáček, the work was created in 1980 for Nederlands Dance Theater in dedication to the legendary choreographer, Antony Tudor. Making its Houston Ballet debut, Stanton Welch’s Bespoke was created on San Francisco Ballet in 2018. Set to a series of Johann Sebastian Bach’s violin concertos, the ballet explores dancers’ love for their artform and the fleeting cycle of being a performer, with motifs of time present throughout the piece. Joining the two Houston premieres is Australian choreographer Tim Harbour’s rhythmic, fast-paced Filigree and Shadow. It takes the stage at the Company’s home theater for the first time, after its debut during the Hometown Tour following Hurricane Harvey in 2018.

Bespoke

Wortham Theater Center

Fiercely inventive, choreographer Jiří Kylián achieved his international breakthrough with Sinfonietta  – an exuberant paean to Mother Earth. Brace yourself as the life cycle is affirmed with eruptions of running jumps, and breathtaking turns to the stirring trumpet calls of Leoš Janáček’s high-spirited score.

Sinfonietta

The very title of this two-part ballet promises an evening of contrasts: tempo versus slowness. In 2027, the ballet world will celebrate Jiří Kylián's 80th birthday. For over three decades, he shaped the profile of Nederlands Dans Theater, which, under his direction, has developed into one of the world's leading contemporary ballet companies. The Prague native has also been associated with the Zurich Ballet since 1997. In slow motion, six figures move through his piece "Last Touch First," reminiscent of Chekhov and Ibsen. On the fine line between perceived movement and immobility, psychodramas full of desire, despair, and pathos unfold. Canadian-born Stephanie Lake is one of the most important dance figures in her adopted home of Australia. She is resident choreographer of the Australian Ballet and resident choreographer with the Semperoper Ballet. With her Melbourne-based Stephanie Lake Company, she tours the world. In her creations, she explores the relationship between the individual and the collective. She is choreographing a fast-paced group piece for the Zurich Ballet to a new score by Robin Fox, dominated by percussion instruments.

Slow Rush

Opernhaus Zürich

One of a Kind was premiered on 6 May 1998 at the Lucent Danstheater in The Hague by the  Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT) 1, helmed by Jiří Kylián. Commissioned by the Dutch government to mark the celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the Constitution of the Netherlands, the piece was revived in The Hague in 2023, with the performance attended by King Willem-Alexander and his mother, Princess Beatrix (formerly Queen). In 2019, the remarkable work was staged in Stuttgart, upon the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Kylián’s joining John Cranko’s Stuttgarter Ballett. Today, One of a Kind forms part of the ballet repertoire of prominent theatres worldwide. A sought-after choreographer, Kylián’s works have been performed on numerous other special and festive occasions, among them the gala inauguration in 2008 of the Norwegian Opera House in Oslo. In 2002, Kylián’s NDT featured in the culture programme during the NATO summit in Prague, hosted by President Václav Havel and attended by 42 heads of state. The Czech National Ballet will be presenting One of a Kind at the National Theatre in celebration of Kylián’s 80th birthday.

One of a Kind

Senses is the Finnish National Ballet’s third contemporary dance evening, offering new perspectives on dance. More than just a performance, it’s an extended event that invites everyone to take part.

Set Designer, Choreographer

Jiří Kylián

Events

Upcoming events

Jan 16 - Jun 3, 2027

Slow Rush · Opernhaus Zürich

Feb 25 - Mar 10, 2027

One of a Kind · Národní divadlo

Feb 26 - Mar 20, 2027

Senses · Finnish National Opera and Ballet

Past events

10 - 11 Oct, 2026

Three masterpieces · Oper Köln

Sep 11 - Oct 11, 2026

Avant-Garde · Národní divadlo

About

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