Toer van Schayk is a Dutch choreographer, balletdancer, visual artist, and set designer.
Toer van Schayk (Amsterdam, 1936) received his first ballet lessons from Iraïl Gadeskov and continued his training with Sonia Gaskell. From 1955 to 1959, he danced with the Dutch Ballet van Gaskell, but interrupted his dance career to complete his training as a sculptor at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague. In 1965, he returned to dance. He was engaged by the recently established Het Nationale Ballet, where his expressive and compelling performances made him a beloved soloist.
In 1971, Van Schayk made his debut as a choreographer with Onvoltooid verleden. Five years later, he was appointed house choreographer of the Dutch National Ballet, in which position he created more than thirty ballets. At the invitation of foreign companies, he created several choreographies, and his work has been and continues to be regularly performed abroad. In addition, in 1999, Van Schayk provided the choreography for the musical Elisabeth, produced by Joop van den Ende.
Van Schayk is also renowned as a visual artist, with exhibitions in Amsterdam, Athens, London, and New York. The human body is an important source of inspiration not only in his choreographies but also in his visual art. As the regular designer of his own ballets and those of Van Dantzig, he is one of the most remarkable Dutch set and costume designers, his often colorful designs being works of art in themselves. His talents have not gone unnoticed abroad either. In 1970, he made his debut as a set designer with the English Royal Ballet, in the production The Ropes of Time by Rudi van Dantzig.
Toer van Schayk. Foto: Angela Sterling.In 2001 neemt Van Schayk, wegens het bereiken van de pensioengerechtigde leeftijd, officieel afscheid van Het Nationale Ballet. Zijn betrokkenheid bij het gezelschap blijft echter groot. Zo zijn onder meer de ontwerpen van de productie van Giselle, die het gezelschap in 2009 heeft uitgebracht, van zijn hand. Bovendien staat voor 2012 een nieuw ballet in de geest van deBallets Russes voor The English National Ballet op het programma.
In 1979, Toer van Schayk was appointed Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau. In 1987, he received the Choreography Prize on behalf of the Association of Theatre Directors for his ballet Symphony No. 7. In 2011, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Benois de la Danse 2011. The ‘Benois’ is the Oscar of dance. Van Schayk received the award for his entire oeuvre: as a dancer, choreographer, and designer.
source: Theaterencyclopedie
website: www.toervanschayk.nl