Jiri Kylian

Netherlands Dance Theater

Early Life

Born 1947 in Prague, Czechoslovakia.

Jiris mother was a dancer child protegee.

At the age of 9, he became a student at the School of the

National Ballet Prague and in 1962 was accepted as a
student to the Prague conservatory.

In 1967, he received a scholarship to study at the Royal Ballet

School in London.

In London he met John Cranko, who offered him a contract with

the well known Stuttgart Ballet and later became his mentor.

Under the Stuttgart Ballet contract he created his first

official works Kommen und Gehen.

Later
In the early seventies, NDT was on tour in Stuttgart and were impressed by Kylians work.
This lead to him creating three works for NDT until becoming the artistic and co
director of the company.
Kylian entered the company during its decline.
From 1978 1986 he was able to revive the company with new and exciting work.
He then became interested in culture and the importance of educating young dancers.
From this he created NDT II a company in which young people could develop their
skills for two years in order to become members of the main NDT .
The artistic policy of the company had three main aims 1)new young
choreographers 2)new international creations 3)the encouragement of creativity.
In 1990 he saw a lack of opportunity for senior dancers and created NDT III for 40 plus

What makes Jiri unique

His ability to work with everyone.
Applying classical technique.
The range in his repretoire.
His muse is his wife, Sabine
Kupferberg

Awards
Sonia Gaskellprijs (Amsterdam)
- Price of the Dutch Theatre Critics
- Officier de lordre Pour les arts et lettres (Paris)
- Honorary Doctor / The Juilliard School New York - Three
Nijinsky Awards for choreography, as choreographer and for
the unique
Company- structure of NDT: NDT I, NDT II, NDT III (Monte-Carlo,
2000)
- Commandeur dans lordre pour Les Arts et lettres (Paris,
2001)

Pictures

Videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6
S8xJ7MT1U Petite Mort
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
xpJ29MaNNVs Interview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
3xxjA2cFrhQ Funny Jiri

Where can you find him?

KYLIAN PRODUCTIONS B.V.
Director: Carmen Thomas
Acaciastraat 14
2565 KB The Hague
The Netherlands
M: +31.6. 150 666 34
E: cthomas@kylianproduction.nl
Other:
info@jirikylian.com

Personal statement
After researching Jiri Kylians extensive career
we found his work not only visually astonishing
but mentally inspiring. We like how he applies
classic technique to create new and different
ideas. His love for dance as an art form can be
seen through his openness to teach, foster, and
invent. He is truly a maverick in his field.

Questions?
1. What company was his first contract with?
a. ABT
b.NDT
c. Stuttgart Ballet
2. What is one of the artistic aims for NDTs
company?
a. Creativity b. Comedy c. Romance
3. Who is Jiris inspiration/muse?
a. John Cranko b. Sabine Kupferberg c. NDT
4. What is the company in which young people
could develop their skills for two years in order to
become members of the main NDT?
a. NDT II b. NDT III c.ABT
5. Who offered Jiri and contract with the Stuttgart
Ballet?

Reference page
http://www.jirikylian.com/existence/
https://www.facebook.com/Ji%C3%AD
-Kylin-11043429335/timeline
/
http://www.abt.org/education/archive
/choreographers/
kylian_j.html