Jan Linkens was born in Maastricht (Netherlands) in 1958.
He received his dance education at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, Netherlands.
From 1977 until 1994 Jan Linkens worked, first as a dancer and later as a choreographer with the Dutch National Ballet in Amsterdam (Netherlands).

As a dancer he participated in works of internationally recognized choreographers such as Hans van Manen, Rudi van Dantzig, Toer van Schayk, George Balanchine, Kurt Jooss, Carolyn Carlson among others.

In 1983 he won a scholarship from the Dutch government to study at the "School of American Ballet" in New York (USA). Among his teachers were Stanley Williams, Andrej Kramerewsky and others.

He did his first choreography in 1979 for the Dutch National Ballet on a music by A. Glasunow. Since then he has created more than 30 choreographies and worked with many companies as choreographer and guest teacher. Among the companies he has worked with are the Dutch National Ballet, Amsterdam (Netherlands), the Nederlands Dans Theater, The Hague (Netherlands), Intro Dans, Arnhem (Netherlands), Scapino Ballet, Rotterdam (Netherlands), Ballett der Deutschen Oper, Berlin (Germany), Tanztheater der Komischen Oper, Berlin (Germany), Star Dancers Ballet, Tokyo (Japan), Ballet Philippines, Manila (The Philippines), The Israel Ballet, Tel Aviv (Israel), Ballet Victor Ullate, Madrid (Spain).

From 1994 to 1999 Jan Linkens was artistic director and chief choreographer of the "Tanztheater der Komischen Oper" in Berlin (Germany), jointly with Marc Jonkers. With this company he has created five full-feature ballets and several shorter choreographies.

In 1983 his work "For a Close Friend" took first at the 14th International Choreographic Competition in Cologne (Germany). His ballet "For You" was one of the prizewinners at the 1st International Choreographic Competition in Tokyo (Japan) in 1991. In 1997 his piece "Nuevas Cruzes" was nominated as best choreography for the Benois de la Danse Prize.

Since August 1999 Jan Linkens works as an freelance choreographer and guest teacher.

Contact Jan Linkens:
Mobile Portugal: +351-916829986
Mobile Netherlands: +31-621458524