Hans van Manen (Nieuwer-Amstel, 1932) is one of the grandmasters of contemporary ballet and is also called the ‘Mondriaan of dance’. His currently over a hundred and fifty choreographies have a distinctive style, with the great clarity of structure and refined simplicity as its prime characteristics. From 1960, he alternated work with the two major dance companies of the Netherlands, the Dutch National Ballet and Nederlands Dans Theater. He worked with national stars like Alexandra Radius, Han Ebbelaar and Gérard Lemaitre, as well as with international stars like Rudolf Nureyev, Marcia Haydée and Natalia Makarova. His choreographies are danced by over ninety companies abroad. Besides a choreographer, Van Manen has also been successful as a photographer, and his work was featured at international exhibitions.
Major work, including
1965 Metaforen
1971 Grosse Fuge
1973 Adagio Hammerklavier
1975 Four Schumann Pieces, Assortimento
1977 5 Tango’s, Lieder ohne Worte
1979 Live
1981 Sarcasmen
1982 Trois Gnossiennes
1983 In and Out
1990 Two
1992 On the Move
1996 Kleines Requiem
1997 Solo
2005 Frank Bridge Variations
2010 Variations for two couples
Previously featured at the Holland Festival
1963 Symphony in three movements
1964 Opus twaalf
1965 Essay in de stilte, Symphony in three movements
1966 Metaforen, Point of No Return
1968 Variomatic, Vijf Schetsen
1970 Mutations
1971 Keep Going, Grosse Fuge
1972 Twilight
1973 Septet Extra, Daphnis en Chloé – suite no. 2
1974 Le sacre du printemps
1976 Four Schumann Pieces
1979 Live
1980 Live
1983 Portrait
1984 Bits and Pieces
1985 Ballet Scènes, Dumbarton Oaks
1987 Symphonieën der Nederlanden
1988 Four Schumann Pieces
1991 In The Future, 5 Tango’s
1992 Trois Gnossiennes, Theme from True Colour, Visions Fugitives, Two, On the Move, Black Cake, Squares, In and Out, Grosse Fuge, Situation, Twilight, Adagio Hammerklavier, Corps, Portrait, Evergreens
1994 Compositie, Squares
1995 Grosse Fuge, Déjà vu
1997 Three Pieces for HET
2008 Situation
2019 Kleines Requiem
2021 Grosse Fuge
Prizes and awards, including
2018 Medal of Honour for Art and Science from the Order of the House of Orange.
2017 Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres (French ministry of culture)
2013 Benois de la Danse for Variations for two couples
2007 VSCD Lifetime achievement award
2007 Commander in the Order of the Netherlands Lion
2005 Benois de la Danse Lifetime Achievement Award
2004 Deutsche Tanzpreis
2000 Erasmus Prize
1996 Bob Angelo Penning from the COC
1993 Deutsche Tanzpreis
1991 Sonia Gaskell Prize
1991 Choreography prize from the VSCD for Two
1957 State Award for Choreography for Feestgericht