Paul Lightfoot

Paul Lightfoot was born into a farming family in Kingsley England. Lightfoot started ballet aged 11, and after graduating from The Royal Ballet School in London. he joined Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT) in 1985. Lightfoot began professionally with NDT2. Two years later he moved up into NDT1, where he danced until 2008. Early in his career Lightfoot began choreographing together with Sol León. Since 1989, León and Lightfoot have been a choreographic duo. Together they have created more than 60 world premieres, receiving many national and international awards. 

In 2002 León and Lightfoot were appointed House Choreographers of NDT, the position they held until 2020. From September 2011 until August 2020 Lightfoot was the Artistic Director of NDT.  After stepping away from NDT, the duo worked with ballet companies around the world. They continue creating choreographies together, as well as separately, since 2020.

Photo by Elena Lekhova