Rudi van Dantzig

Choreographer and former artistic director

Few people have left such a mark on Dutch National Ballet and the Dutch dance world as Rudi van Dantzig (Amsterdam, 1933-2012). Van Dantzig, choreographer and writer, was the artistic director of Dutch National Ballet for twenty years.

He started his dancing career in 1952 with Sonia Gaskell’s company Ballet Recital, one of the forerunners of Dutch National Ballet. Following the foundation of Dutch National Ballet in 1961, he became resident choreographer of the company. In 1965, he was appointed artistic co-director and from 1971 to 1991 he was the sole artistic director of the company.

In total, Van Dantzig created over fifty ballets, often in collaboration with Toer van Schayk as set and costume designer. Some of Van Dantzig’s works are still in Dutch National Ballet’s repertoire and that of many companies abroad. Van Dantzig’s best-known works include Vier letzte Lieder, Monument for a Dead Boy, the duet Voorbij gegaan, Onder mijne voeten and his versions of the full-length classics Romeo and Juliet and Swan Lake.

Rudi van Dantzig also became a well-known author. His debut novel was For a Lost Soldier, for which he was awarded the Geertjan Lubberhuizen Prize and a Gouden Ezelsoor. Subsequent publications included The Trail of a Comet, a book about his memories of Rudolf Nureyev, the novels Afgrond and Toen gij naakt en bloot waart, and the biography The life of Willem Arondéus. In 1981, he also published Olga de Haas: a memory, about one of the most legendary dancers of Dutch National Ballet. Van Dantzig devoted the latter years of his life to writing the book Memories of Sonia Gaskell, which was published posthumously in 2013.

On the occasion of his seventy-fifth birthday in 2009, Dutch National Ballet paid tribute to its former artistic leader with a programme dedicated to Van Dantzig and his work. In May 2012, the company presented a homage programme to mark his death on 19 January 2012.

Van Dantzig received a great many awards for his choreography, including the French Prix de la Critique, the Sonia Gaskell Prize, the German Verdienstkreuz am Bande, the international Benois de la Danse Life Time Achievement Award and the Silver Medal from the City of Amsterdam. In 1991, Van Dantzig was appointed Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau.

Season 2025-2026
In the 2025-2026 season, from September 11 to 28, the ballet Monument for a Dead Boy by Rudi van Dantzig will be presented in the programme Monument. And there will be performances of Van Dantzig's full-length ballet Romeo and Juliet from 14 October to 11 November 2025.

Monument: tickets & info
Romeo and Juliet: tickets & info

Awards:

  • 2005: Silver Medal from the City of Amsterdam
  • 2002: Life Time Achievement Award, Benois de la Danse
  • 1991: Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau
  • 1985: Sonia Gaskell Award
  • 1982: Verdienstkreuz am Bande (Germany)
  • 1970: Choreography Prize, Amsterdam Fund for the Arts
  • 1969: Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau
  • 1961: Prix de la Critique
  • 1956: Choreography Prize, Amsterdam Fund for the Arts