Oliver Matz
Mr. Oliver Matz received his ballet training at the State Ballet School Berlin and joined the German State Opera in 1980, serving the company as a Principal Dancer and International Ambassador for 25 years.
Oliver is the recipient of numerous National and International Awards such as the bronze medal at the International Ballet Competition in Varna, and Gold medals at the International Ballet Competitions in Helsinki and Jackson.
In recognition of his outstanding artistic achievements, he was appointed Berliner Kammertänzer by the Berlin Senator of Culture in 1995, the first dancer ever to receive this highest honour.
For his lifetime achievement, he was appointed Honorary Member of the German State Opera in 2004.
Internationally celebrated figures and choreographers like Ray Barra, Patrice Bart, Michael Baryshnikov, Maurice Béjart, William Forsythe, Pierre Lacotte, Hans van Manen, Rudolf Nurejew, Roland Petit, Uwe Scholz, Yuri Vamos, and Wladimir Wassiljev created roles for him or reinterpretations of classical narrative ballets.
Guest appearances and gala events took him to many parts of the world, including performances with internationally renowned ballet companies like the American Ballet Theater in New York, the Bavarian State Ballet, the Teatro alla Scala in Milano, the Finnish National Ballet, the National Ballet of Canada, the Royal Ballet London and the Stuttgart Ballet.
He enjoyed dancing with outstanding international ballerinas like Eva Evdokimova, Isabelle Guérin, Sylvie Guillem, Evelyn Hart, Margaret Illmann, Alessandra Ferri, Ludmilla Semenjaka, and Steffi Scherzer.
Besides his duties as General Director, Mr. Matz enjoys much success as a faculty member, teaching male ballet classes. Many of his students joined world-renowned Companies and have won top prizes at major International Ballet Competitions.
Class demonstration of Boys' Class at the Zurich Dance Academy, Switzerland