Jiří Kylián (born 21 March 1947) is a Czech-Nederlands contemporary dance choreographer.
Kylián studied in Prague and, at the age of 20, won a scholarship at the Royal Ballet School in London.
He joined the Stuttgart Ballet in 1968 and worked under John Cranko, where he began to work as a choreographer. Kylián became Artistic Director of Nederlands Dans Theatre in 1976. His best known works include Symphony of Psalms (1978). His style include exploring the limitations and capabilities of space, body parts, entrances and exits, contrasts, and humor.
In 1992, he started his own chamber company for dancers over 40.
In 1993 and 1999, he was awarded the Prix Benois de la Danse as choreographer, one of the two only to receive it twice. In 2000 he received a Laurence Olivier Award for his artistic excellence and outstanding direction of Nederlands Dans Theater 1’s season at Sadler’s Wells (the company itself also received an Olivier for Symphony of Psalms. In 2008 Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands bestowed the prestigious Eremedaille voor Kunst en Wetenschap [Medal of honour for Art and Science] upon him
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