Prof. Peter Breuer, born on October 29, 1946, in Tegernsee, Germany, has established himself as one of the foremost figures in international ballet. The son of pianist and conductor Peter Bruno Breuer, he was immersed in the arts from an early age. After relocating to Munich after the war, Breuer began his ballet training at age 11 at the Roleff-King Ballet School, quickly advancing under Gustav Blank, who taught in the rigorous Vaganova style.

Breuer’s rise in ballet was meteoric. By 15, he debuted professionally with the Bavarian State Opera Munich in 1961. His prodigious talent soon led him to the German Opera on the Rhine in Düsseldorf in 1964, where he progressed from demi-soloist to principal dancer within two years, under the mentorship of esteemed ballet masters and choreographers Erich Walter and Victor Gsovsky.

From 1969 to 1973, Breuer excelled as a principal guest artist at the London Festival Ballet (now known as English National Ballet), becoming a full-time principal in 1973. His spellbinding performances and formidable technique earned him a place at prestigious venues worldwide, including the American Ballet Theatre and La Scala Ballet. Breuer’s global tours captivated audiences in cities from Venice to New York, and from Hong Kong to Johannesburg. He concluded his illustrious stage career in 1988, leaving behind a legacy of artistic excellence.

Breuer’s second act as a choreographer began in 1981, with his innovative work gracing stages at the Bavarian State Opera, the German Opera on the Rhine, and the Budapest State Opera. His narratives in movement were encapsulated in acclaimed full-length ballets like “Tschaikovsky” and “Siegfried” for the Karlsruhe State Ballet.

In 1991, Breuer took the helm of the Salzburg Ballet at the State Theatre, where he served as Ballet Director and Chief Choreographer until 2019. His tenure was marked by an array of “storytelling” ballets, including “Peer Gynt,” “Orpheus and Eurydice,” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” which were lauded for their emotive power and depth. His later works, such as “Elements,” “The Beatles,” “Ballet and Blues,” and a contemporary “Marie Antoinette,” continued to push creative boundaries, engaging new audiences and redefining ballet narratives.

In 2004, recognizing the need for high-caliber ballet training, Prof. Breuer founded the Salzburg International Ballet Academy (SIBA) and continues to serve as its Artistic Director, nurturing the next generation of ballet talent.

Breuer’s career has been adorned with numerous accolades, including the Maya Plisetskaya Award for his rendition of “Carmen” in 2005, and the prestigious German Dance/Ballet Prize in 2015, recognizing his life’s work as one of ballet’s most transformative figures. The Austrian government awarded him the Great Cross of Honour, and in 2017, he was honored with a professorship by Salzburg Governor Wilfried Haslauer in the name of Austrian President Alexander van der Bellen.

Since 2019, Breuer has been the Resident Choreographer at the Europaballett St. Pölten, imparting his artistic vision and continuing to innovate. His recent creations, like “Madame Butterfly” and “Farinelli,” premiered to critical acclaim, further cementing his status as a pioneer in the dance world.

Peter Breuer’s vast oeuvre, now encompassing 65 full-length and 15 one-act ballets, stands as a testament to his enduring impact on the world of dance.