Janek Schergen - Lifetime Achievement Award (International Ballet Grand Prix Singapore 2023)

We are thrilled to share that our artistic director, Janek Schergen, received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the International Ballet Grand Prix Singapore on 23 July, 2023. This award recognizes his decades of outstanding contribution and dedication to the Singapore dance scene. The event was organized by Singapore Dance Alliance, and supported by National Arts Council and Singapore Ballet.
This video montage was put together by Singapore Dance Alliance.
Mr Janek Schergen, current Artistic Director of Singapore Ballet, was trained by Richard Eliis & Christine DuBoulay at the Sadler’s Wells Ballet & Royal Ballet, He was also trained by Benjamin Harkarvy, founder of Netherlands Dance Theatre.
Mr Janek danced with Royal Winnipeg Ballet and then joined Pennsylvania Ballet, where he eventually became a part of the faculty at the company’s school. Mr Janek has been a Ballet Masters in a number of companies, including the Washington Ballet, Royal Swedish Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and Norwegian National Ballet. In 2007, he was asked to become Assistant Artistic Director of Singapore Dance Theatre and the following year, assumed the role of Artistic Director until today. During this time, he has commissioned 31 world premiere ballets and brought in a further 19 company premieres to enrich the company’s repertoire.
In 2013, he oversaw the move into SDT’s new rehearsal studios and offices. He has developed several programmes for SDT, including the Ballet Associates Course, Scholar’s Programme, One @ the Ballet, The Ambassadors Circle, the annual fund raising gala, Celebration in Dance, SDT Choreographic Workshop, SDT Intensive Ballet Programme and many other platforms to increase the artistic identity of SDT and its awareness in the arts community in Singapore.
Mr Janek Schergen is also the founding Artistic Director of the Choo San Goh & H. Robert Magee Foundation and Chairman of The Choo San Goh Awards for Choreography.
In 2015, Mr Janek was presented with the Culture Award given by Tatler magazine and in 2017, he was awarded the Public Service Medal as part of the Singapore National Day Awards. Mr Janek also received the “Swede of the Year 2019” Award by the Swedish Chamber of Commerce Singapore. Since 2019, Mr Janek has been the Artistic Advisor and Head of Jury for International Ballet Grand Prix Singapore.