DANIEL LOMMEL

Daniel Lommel was born in Paris. He studied at the Ballet School of the Liège Opera under Joseph Lazzini and later continued his training in his native city with Nora Kiss.

In 1964, he joined the Hamburg Ballet, then directed by Peter van Dijck, and performed in some of the company’s most significant repertoire alongside distinguished dancers such as Jacqueline Rayet, Claire Motte, Maria Tallchief, Sonia Arova and Marilyn Burr. He appeared in works choreographed by George Balanchine, Roland Petit and Janine Charrat, who collaborated with the company as guest artists.

From 1967, he worked with Maurice Béjart’s Ballet of the 20th Century as a soloist, becoming the company’s co-artistic director in 1973. During his “Béjart period”, he shared the stage with some of the era’s most celebrated performers, including Jorge Donn, Paolo Bortoluzzi and Suzanne Farrell.

From 1975 to 1983, he performed Mahler’s Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen with Rudolf Nureyev on major stages throughout the United States and Europe.

In August 1980, with the support of Greek artists and other prominent figures, Daniel Lommel founded the AENAON Dance Theatre in Athens. The company’s first performance, created in collaboration with Minos Volanakis, took place at the Vyronas rock quarries, later known as the Melina Mercouri Theatre. From 1980 to 1989, with the enthusiastic support of Melina Mercouri, then Minister of Culture, Daniel Lommel incorporated AENAON into the National Theatre of Northern Greece.

In 1990, he returned to France, where he taught classical ballet and ancient drama at the Toulouse State Conservatoire and the Joseph Russillo Choreographic Centre, while continuing to create new choreographic works. In 1996, he became director of the dance ensemble at the State Dance School of Bourges, as well as artistic director of the festival of the same name.

Yet Greece drew him back once more—this time to Athens. Wherever he may be, one thing remains unchanged: the magic he brings to the world through his creations. In October 2003, he was honoured by the Ministry of Culture, the Hellenic Culture Organisation of the Cultural Olympiad and the “NeILYS” company, during a special event held at the Royal Theatre of Thessaloniki.

To this day, AENAON has built a rich and enduring creative legacy, with at least 65 works and approximately 700 performances in Greece and abroad. Continually seeking new and talented artists eager to take part in its future activities, Lommel remains committed to the constant renewal of his art, both in classical ballet and contemporary dance.