Michael Schumacher

Michael has been a dance member of Ballet Frankfurt, Twyla Tharp Dance, the Feld Ballet and the Pretty Ugly Dance Company. Working as dancer, choreographer, and teacher, he has developed a unique approach to the discipline of improvisation. He has collaborated with several pioneering artists, including Han Bennink, Katie Duck, Mary Oliver, Kirstie Simson, and Alex Waterman. He has created original works with the dancers of Ballet Frankfurt, Nederlands Dans Theater 3, The Dutch National Ballet, Dansgroep Amsterdam, and Jin Xing Dance Theatre.

With Jiří Kylián, he created Last Touch First, which has been performed throughout Europe and the USA. Together with Sabine Kupferberg, he created Queen Lear. In 2008, Michael was awarded both the Gouden Zwaan and the Jiří Kylián Ring and became the first dancer and choreographer ever to receive the two awards at the same time. He conducts workshops in movement analysis and improvisation worldwide.