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The Staatsballett Berlin mourns the death of Hans van Manen, one of the most important European choreographers of the 20th century. He not only shaped ballet in his native Netherlands, but, through his pared-back choreographic language, gave contemporary ballet international weight and presence. At the same time, over several generations, he inspired countless dancers by asking them to interpret subtle human states of mind – through their own personalities and their individual way of dancing. That was his artistic credo.

In Berlin, a total of eleven of his works appeared in the repertoire between 1976 and 2014. At Gert Reinholm’s invitation, he staged Metaforen and Adagio Hammerklavier (1976), followed by Daphnis et Chloé (1977) and, as a German premiere, Five Tangos (1979). An entire evening was devoted to him in 1983, featuring Sarkasmen, Trois Gnossiennes and Pose; in 1984 his work Twilight was added in Berlin. His repertoire there was at times cast with great prominence – Rudolf Nureyev, for example, danced Hans van Manen’s Five Tangos with the Ballet of the Deutsche Oper Berlin. Most recently, Berlin audiences were able to see The Old Man and Me (2014), which Vladimir Malakhov, choreographer and outgoing artistic director of the Staatsballett Berlin, had included for his appearances in his final Berlin gala series. The emotions awakened by Hans van Manen’s works are marked by great optimism, by his humour and by a very particular sensuality.

Human relationships were his central theme. Hans van Manen’s humanity will be deeply missed – his warmth and the precision with which, whether in the studio or in conversation, he sensed every nuance and responded to it directly. Until very recently he was still travelling, giving his works their final polish on ballet stages around the world before their premieres, most recently in 2023 at Zurich Ballet under the direction of Christian Spuck. Hans van Manen has now died in Amsterdam at the age of 93. The Staatsballett Berlin remembers him with deep gratitude.