Iván Markó

Iván Markó (29 March 1947 – 21 April 2022) was a Hungarian choreographer and ballet dancer.^[1][2][3]

Iván Markó
Markó in 2014
Born	(1947-03-29)29 March 1947 Balassagyarmat, Hungary
Died	21 April 2022(2022-04-21) (aged 75) Budapest, Hungary
Occupation(s)	Choreographer, ballet dancer

Biography

Markó was born in Balassagyarmat.^[1][4] He studied dancing at the Hungarian State Ballet Institute in Budapest.^[1] After having graduated in 1967, Markó joined the Hungarian State Opera, where he became a principal dancer in 1971.^[1]

Markó in 1979

In 1972 dancer, choreographer and opera director Maurice Béjart invited Markó to his Ballet of the 20th Century.^[1][4] One of his best known roles was in Béjart's production of Stravinsky's Firebird.^[1]

In 1974 he was ranked as one of the top ten ballet dancers worldwide.^[1][4]

In 1979 Markó established the Győr Ballet in Győr, Hungary. He was director of the ensemble until 1991.^[1]

Markó was a choreographer for the Bayreuth Festival from 1985.^[1] He also worked at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance,^[1] and as a guest choreographer for other companies.^[1]

In 1996, he established the Hungarian Ballet Festival.^[1]

Markó died in April 2022, at the age of 75.^[1]

Awards in Hungary

Markó was a recipient of the Kossuth Prize in 1983, and was also a recipient of the Meritorious Artist Prize and SZOT Prize,^[1] and a member of the Society of Immortals from 2005.^[1] In 2007, Markó was awarded the Hungarian Order of Merit.^[1] He was also made an honorary citizen of his birthplace, Balassagyarmat.^[1] Markó was a recipient of the Prima Primissima Prize in 2008.^[1]