JOHN NEUMEIER

Recent weeks have seen extensive features
on German TV and in other German media.
TESS CREBBIN introduces the American choreographer

Since 1973 John Neumeier has been the Director and Chief Choreographer of The Hamburg Ballet. He was born in 1942 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, where he received his first dance training. He went on to study ballet both in Copenhagen and at the Royal Ballet School in London. He acquired a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and Theater Studies from Marquette University, Wisconsin.

In 1963 he was discovered in London by Marcia Hayd and Ray Barra. This, in turn, led John Cranko to engage him at the Stuttgart Ballet, where he soon progressed to solo dancer and created his first choreographic works. Since 1973 he has been at Hamburg, receiving worldwide recognition for breaking new ground.

His commitment has manifested itself particularly in his revised versions of the classical 'Story Ballets'. For his new creations, he has sought out his own narrative forms, resulting in works such as: The Saga of King Arthur; a series of Shakespeare ballets, including A Midsummer Night's Dream, Hamlet, Othello, Mozart and themes from 'As You Like It' and VIVALDI or What You Will, and his adaptation of Ibsen's Peer Gynt.

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