Neumeier extends Hamburg Ballet contract

Posted on October 30, 2013

Director and choreographer John Neumeier has extended his contract with the Hamburg Ballet for another four years.

Neumeier, who has led the company for 40 years, has also been its general manager since 1996. His contract, due to expire in 2015, has been extended to 2019. He is now the longest-serving living ballet director in the world. The company’s repertoire includes all 149 of his ballets, and has given more than a thousand performances during 312 tours in more than 30 countries.

Barbara Kisseler, the senator for culture of the city of Hamburg, said: “We are delighted that this story of success will continue and its future will be secured. John Neumeier, together with the Hamburg Ballet, has made Hamburg one of the most important cities for dance in the world. We want to work together with John Neumeier to preserve this treasure for the future and allow it to continue to grow.”

Neumeier said: “I am pleased that I will be continuing my work in Hamburg. After serious consideration and detailed negotiations, I believe that we have come to a good result. Aside from my own future creative work, these further four years should also serve to secure my work and the tradition that has been built up over the past 40 years for the Hamburg Ballet.”

Zoe Anderson

Zoë was born in Edinburgh, and saw her first dance performances at the Festival there. She is the dance critic of The Independent, and has also written for The Independent on Sunday, The Scotsman and Dancing Times. In 2002, she received her doctorate from the University of York for a thesis on “Nationhood and epic romance: Ariosto, Sidney, Spenser”. She is the author of The Royal Ballet: 75 Years and The Ballet Lover’s Companion.