Death Choreographer Hans van Manen dies at the age of 93
The world-famous Dutch choreographer Hans van Manen passed away on Wednesday evening at the age of 93. This was announced by the Dutch National Ballet. The neoclassical dance grandmaster created more than 150 works in his lifetime.
17.12.2025, 23:22
SDA
Van Manen is regarded as one of the great innovators of contemporary ballet. He was one of the founding members of the Nederlands Dans Theater and directed it from 1961 to 1970.
"Hans van Manen is one of the greatest artists our country has produced and an incredibly inspiring friend to many people. His contribution to the development of dance in the Netherlands and far beyond is of immense importance," said Ted Brandsen, Director of the Dutch National Ballet, paying tribute to his great role model.
"Energetic, spirited, endlessly curious, loving, generous, committed, lovable (and difficult), with a great sense of humor, incomparable and unforgettable, the great choreographer, the king of swing, a great friend - Hans is all that and much more for me and for us," said Brandsen. "His art will live on in the bodies of the dancers who perform his works and in the eyes of countless spectators."
As a choreographer, Hans van Manen has worked at all the major theaters - including in Switzerland. His video ballet "Live" will be shown in a four-part ballet evening at Zurich Opera House from January 17, as can be read on the opera house's website. According to the website, van Manen wrote dance history in 1979 with his piece "Live", which was created in the pioneering days of video technology.
