2015 Kyoto Prize Laureate Choreographer John Neumeier to Present at USD

Thursday, March 10, 2016TOPICS: Academics, Community Engagement, Conferences and Workshops, Fine Arts

The University of San Diego will host John Neumeier, the 2015 recipient of the Kyoto Prize in Arts and Philosophy, for the annual Kyoto Prize Symposium at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, March 17 in Shiley Theatre.

Mr. Neumeier is the preeminent artistic director and choreographer of Germany’s Hamburg Ballet. He will share his choreographic approach with the San Diego community while leading four of the Hamburg Ballet’s principal dancers through a demonstration of his unique artistic talents.

Neumeier is a globally recognized choreographer. During his career, he has combined the essence of two genres, dramatic ballet and abstract ballet, raising the art to a new level. Neumeier has successfully applied traditional ballet techniques and vocabulary to maximize the potential for bodily expression and capture the details of human psychology.

John Neumeier

“USD is pleased to once again host the Kyoto Prize Symposium together with our colleagues at UC San Diego, San Diego State University, and Point Loma Nazarene University. The Inamori Foundation, along with our university partners, share a vision of shining a bright light on remarkable individuals whose life’s work culminate in extraordinary contributions to science, spirituality and civilization. This year, we are especially pleased to host John Neumeier, a choreographer who is recognized around the globe for his brilliant artistry and remarkable bodily expressions,” said USD President James T. Harris III.

A native of Milwaukee, WI, Neumeier moved to Europe after college and quickly established himself as a respected choreographer. His masterpieces, such as “Third Symphony of Gustav Mahler,” “The Lady of the Camelias,” and “The Seagull,” have been said to move audiences to tears. Other Neumeier adaptations such as “Illusions,” “Swan Lake,” and “Othello,” have been described as works of genius.

In addition to Neumeier’s Kyoto Prize Symposium presentation, later that afternoon, he has agreed to lead his four principal dancers in a 90-minute series of ballet vignettes called “Shakespeare Danced.” The performance begins at 2:15 p.m. in USD’s Shiley Theatre. Both events are free and open to the public. Reservations are required.

For more information, visit the Kyoto Prize USA website

— Pam Gray Payton

Photo (at top) by Holger Badekow