LILLIAN STILLWELL is a choreographer whose work has been seen throughout Europe and in the USA since 2009. She began her tenure as Dance Director and Chief Choreographer at Theater Münster in the 2022/23 season.
Lillian’s choreography combines physical and emotional extremes with precise musicality. She understands dance as connection. Beyond choreography, she is interested in opening and demystifying the creation process, developing sustainable working, production and performance methods and establishing new forms of dance leadership.
Her work includes interdisciplinary, participatory and immersive productions, many with casts of over 100 performers, including: Leonard Bernstein’s MASS and Purcell’s THE FAIRY QUEEN at Theater Lübeck; L’ORFEO at the Royal Danish Opera, called “a production of European ranking” by Oper Heute magazine; SILBERLICHT for dance and baroque musicians at Philharmonie Luxembourg; and the upcoming opening of the newly renovated „Alte Reithalle“ for Bühne Aarau in Switzerland.
Lillian grew up in Minneapolis, MN, received her classical training at Ballet Arts Minnesota and the Milwaukee Ballet, and completed a BA in contemporary dance at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. A 15-year dance career followed, lastly from 2005 – 2012 with Johannes Wieland in New York City and at the State Theater in Kassel, Germany.
She has taught dance and choreography at the University of Minnesota Dance Program, St. Olaf College and TU Dance Company and School (USA) as well as at Choreolab Europe and Profitraining Basel (Switzerland). She is currently studying for an Executive Masters in Arts Administration at the University of Zürich while creating productions for the Dutch National Opera & Ballet in Amsterdam and Oper Zürich and leading the 12-member dance company at Theater Münster.
