Obituary: Krisztina de Châtel, Valentyna Kalinovska

Krisztina de Châtel

Hungarian-Dutch choreographer Krisztina de Châtel's website reads, "Krisztina de Châtel is no longer among us."

According to Dutch news outlets and the Dutch National Opera & Ballet's website, Krisztina de Châtel passed away on 3rd June 2025. She was 81 years old. Many other Dutch dance companies paid tribute to her.

De Châtel was born in 1943 in Budapest, Hungary, to a Hungarian father and Dutch mother. She moved to Amsterdam, the Netherlands, to study in 1960s. She later started up her own company, Dansgroep Krisztina de Châtel, and directed it for over 30 years. From 2009 to 2013, she co-directed the company Dansgroep Amsterdam, a city company for modern dance, with Itzik Gallili. From 2013 onwards she creates special performances under the name De Châtel sur Place.

De Châtel is known for her groundbreaking style combining dance, music and visual arts and credited for pioneering the Dutch modern dance. She created more than 70 choreographies and three dance film and received several awards. Here is the archive of her work.

Krisztina de Châtel in Variaties op een thema in 1979 set to Philip Glass' North Star

Valentyna Kalynovska

The National Opera of Ukraine announced on 1st June 2025 that Valentyna Kalynovska passed away. The legendary Ukrainian ballerina was 87 years old. Kalinovska was born in July 1938. She graduated from the Kyiv Choreographic School in 1957 and joined the National Opera Ballet, where she danced as a soloist. Since 1981, she taught young talent, and worked as a ballet mistress and as the head of the ballet of the National Opera. She was awarded People's Artist of the Ukrainian SSR (1964), and People's Artist of the USSR (1968).

The National Opera's announcement said, "She became the first Ukrainian ballerina awarded the honorary title of People's Artist of the USSR. And it became the recognition of the entire Ukrainian ballet. Being the first is her fate."

Farewell to Kalynovska will take place on 4th June, Wednesday from 11:00 to 12:00 in the foyer of the National Opera of Ukraine.