HAMBURG BALLETT JOHN NEUMEIER

Biography

The Hamburg Ballet has earned an outstanding international reputation as one of the world’s leading dance companies. Through extensive international touring, it has become not only a major presence on the global dance scene, but also one of Germany’s most important cultural ambassadors.
At the heart of the company stands its Artistic Director and chief choreographer John Neumeier, who has led the company since 1973. Neumeier masterfully combines the classical ballet tradition with contemporary forms, developing a choreographic language that is entirely personal and instantly recognizable.
His lecture-demonstrations have become one of the defining traditions of the Hamburg Ballet. Since 1973, these matinées have been held annually on the stage of the Hamburgische Staatsoper, where Neumeier, together with the company, explores specific aspects of ballet history, ranging from contemporary repertoire to the technical and historical background of classical works.
Since 1975, the dance festival Hamburger Ballett-Tage has marked the culmination of each season. Traditionally, the festival opens with the premiere of a new creation and concludes with the celebrated Nijinsky Gala, featuring not only the entire Hamburg Ballet company but also internationally renowned ballet stars.
Although the company performs at the Hamburg State Opera, its creative headquarters, rehearsal studios, and educational center are located in a separate building: the Ballettzentrum, inaugurated in 1989.
Founded in 1978, the Ballettschule des Hamburg Ballett includes integrated boarding facilities, a preparatory division, eight professional training levels, and a two-year Theaterklassen program dedicated to dance theatre, helping to train future generations of dancers.
The Ballettzentrum is also home to the Bundesjugendballett, founded by John Neumeier in 2011.