Paul Lightfoot

Paul Lightfoot graduated from the Royal Ballet School in London, England before joining Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT) in 1985, starting as a dancer with NDT 2. Two years later Paul joined NDT 1, where he danced until 2008. During his career, he started choreographing together with Sol León. From September 2011 until August 2020, he was also Artistic Director of NDT. In 2025, the French Minister of Culture decorated Lightfoot to the rank of Chevalier in the Order of Arts and Letters.

Sol and Paul have been a choreographic duo since 1989 and together they have created more than 60 world premieres for NDT, for which they received prestigious awards. In 2002, Sol and Paul were appointed House Choreographers of NDT, a position they held until 2020. After stepping away from NDT, the duo continued working with ballet companies around the world on existing and new works created together, as well as separately.