Krzysztof Pastor

Krzysztof Pastor (1956) trained at the State Ballet School in his hometown of Gdansk. In Poland, he danced with the Dance Theatre in Poznań and the Grand Theatre of Łódź. In 1983, Pastor became a soloist with the Ballet de l’Opéra de Lyon (France). From 1985 to 1995, he was a dancer with Dutch National Ballet, where he danced many roles in ballets by Rudi van Dantzig, as well as works by George Balanchine, Bronislava Nijinska, Hans van Manen, Toer van Schayk and Ted Brandsen.

He made his debut as a choreographer in 1986, for a gala performance in Łódź. He went on to make several works for Dutch National Ballet’s choreographic workshops, followed by his successful debut in the company’s regular programme with Shostakovich Chamber Symphony, in 1992.

Pastor started working as a freelance choreographer in 1995, and from 1997 to 1999 he was resident choreographer with The Washington Ballet. He then returned to Dutch National Ballet, where he held the position of resident choreographer from 2003 to 2017. For the company, Pastor created the full-length productions Kurt Weill (2001), Don Giovanni (2005), Nijinsky (2010) and The Tempest (2014), as well as Do Not Go Gentle… (2000), Voice (2004), Crossing Paths (2006), In Light and Shadow (2006), Shererazade (2009) and Bolero (2012).

Since March 2009, Pastor has been director of the Polish National Ballet of Teatr Wielki. From 2011 to 2020, he was also artistic director of the ballet company of the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre.

To date, he has created more than fifty ballets for many companies around the world, including the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow, the Hungarian National Ballet, The Washington Ballet, The Australian Ballet, the Royal New Zealand Ballet and Hong Kong Ballet.

Pastor has received various awards, including the Medal of Service from the Polish Ministry of Culture, the Choreography Prize from Dansersfonds ’79 and the Gloria Artist Gold Medal. His production Kurt Weill was nominated in three categories for the prestigious international Prix Benois de la Danse. In 2014, the Polish Minister of Culture conferred a high distinction on Pastor for his outstanding services to dance in Poland, and in 2021 he was awarded a Knight’s Cross of the Order for Merits to Lithuania.

• Season 2023-2024
  
  From 3 February to 17 March 2024, the Junior Company of Dutch National Ballet will make the anniversary tour Ten, including Pastor's choreography Toccata.
  
  
  
  Info & tickets