Who is He?

Jiří’s mother, Markéta—a prominent Prague-based dancer from the interwar period—was initially unaware of her son's talent for dance until her friends pointed it out to her. After attending an acrobatics school, the Prague Conservatory, and London’s Royal Ballet School, Jiří landed his first engagement in Stuttgart. By 1968, this engagement became his gateway to the free world, paving the way for his promising career as a choreographer. In Stuttgart, Jiří met his future wife and muse, Sabine Kupferberg, who later followed him to the Netherlands, where they still live. Throughout his life, Jiří has been captivated by Janáček’s Sinfonietta. He would play it to all his friends when he invited them over for supper. In fact, it was his choreography for the Sinfonietta which was to become his international breakthrough. 

“Choreography emerges neither from my head nor the dancer’s body, but in the space between.”

Jiří Kylián

Milestones

His first piece of choreography was to his own music performed live on piano.

Became Artistic Director of Nederlands Dans Theater at just 27 years old.

Created over 80 choreographies for 40 renowned dance companies worldwide; these works continue to be staged by leading international ensembles.

Recipient of numerous prestigious awards including, amongst many others, the Carina Ari Medal, West End Theatre Award (London), Nederlandse Choreografie Prijs (Amsterdam), Hans Christian Andersen Ballet Award (Copenhagen), Grand Prix International Vidéo-Danse (Paris), Sonia Gaskellprijs (Amsterdam), Officier de l'Ordre "Pour les Arts et Lettres" (Paris), Dutch Theatre Award (Amsterdam), Critics Award (Netherlands), Premio Internazionale Gino Tani (Rome), Premio Danza e Danza (Milan), Benois de la Danse for Choreographers (Moscow), Outstanding Achievement of Cultural Merits Award (Tokyo), Premio di Teatro di Roma (Rome), Knight of the Order of Oranje-Nassau (The Hague), Angel Award from the Edinburgh International Festival, Joost van den Vondel Prize, the Czech Ministry of Culture’s Artis Bohemiae Amicis, the Laurence Olivier Award, the Nijinsky Award for Best International Choreographer (Monte Carlo) and honorary doctorates from Juilliard School New York and AMU (Prague).

Founder of the Kylián Foundation in the support of dance, with branches in The Hague and Prague.

Recipient of the Order of the White Lion (2024).

The Allegro Forte - Faces of Czech Music exhibition was conceived and photographed by Štěpánka Stein and Vendy Mlejnská. Jiří Kylián is pictured on the roof of the National Theatre in Prague.