40 years of the Cullberg Ballet

Programme

"We are celebrating 40 years with eight anniversary performances. A unique evening full of festive surprises with both retrospectives and new pieces created for this very special occasion. This time we will not only take the stage but also fill the foyer with exhibitions, installations and ourselves. Come and celebrate with us!
Greetings Cullberg Ballet "

About the Cullberg Ballet
Now in its fifth decade, the Cullberg Ballet is a world-leading dance company. The ensemble has danced in some forty countries and is an important element in the international presentation of Swedish cultural life. In the last ten years, the Cullberg Ballet has given as many performances abroad as in Sweden and has made acclaimed appearances all over the world. Through its annual tours within the country, the Cullberg Ballet also reaches out nationally with the best of Swedish dance art. The composition of the ensemble has been international from the start, and the twenty dancers of the Cullberg Ballet are the company's greatest strength. The dancers' strong stage personalities and technical strength have always been the hallmark of the Cullberg Ballet.

The Cullberg Ballet was founded in 1967 under the auspices of the Swedish National Theatre by Birgit Cullberg. She has had a strong influence on contemporary Swedish and foreign ballet art since the 1950s when her Miss Julie premiered - over the years one of the most danced pieces in the world. The Cullberg Ballet's first ensemble consisted of eight hand-picked international dancers and the original idea that they should all be considered soloists still applies today.

In 1982, Birgit Cullberg was succeeded by Mats Ek, who was the company's artistic director until 1993. With their outstanding works, these two have left their personal mark on the Cullberg Ballet and contributed to making it one of the world's leading ensembles.

Carolyn Carlson took over as artistic director from Mats Ek in 1993, and was succeeded in 1995 by Lena Wennergren-Juras and Margareta Lidström.
Since summer 2003, Johan Inger has been the artistic director of the Cullberg Ballet. He has received great attention both in Sweden and abroad for his strong choreographies, and has received several awards, including the 2006 Birgit Cullberg Scholarship.