Obituary : Tom Schilling - former ballet director in Dresden and East Berlin
- Ikuko
- 1 day ago
- 1 min read
Tom Schilling, the former ballet director and choreographer in Dresden and East Berlin, has passed away.
Schilling passed away on 16th January 2026, the Staatsballett Berlin said in a press statement on 27th February 2026. He was 98 years old.
Born in 1928 in Esperstedt, Germany, Schilling made a profound contribution to shape ballet in Germany over decades during the post-war and cold war era.
He was the choreographer and head of the Tanztheater at the Komische Oper Berlin, a predecessor of today's Staatsballett Berlin, in East Berlin from 1965 until 1993, according to the press statement.
Before directing in East Berlin, Schilling was Ballet Director and Chief Choreographer of the State Opera Dresden (Staatsoper Dresden) from 1956 to 1964. The Semperoper Ballett paid tribute to him on its Instagram post on the same day.