Jeroen Verbruggen (1983) is a Belgian choreographer based in Berlin.

He trained at The Royal Belgian Ballet School in Antwerp and The National Ballet School of Canada in Toronto. A laureate of the Prix de Lausanne (2000), he made an early mark with his first choreographed solo “Hyperballad”, which won the Eurovision Contest for Young Dancers in London (2001). He danced with The Royal Ballet of Flanders and Ballet d’Europe before joining Les Ballets de Monte Carlo in 2004, where he performed for ten years.

During his dance career, Jeroen embodied major classical and contemporary roles, and worked closely with iconic choreographers such as Jean-Christophe Maillot, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Marco Goecke, Jan Fabre, George Balanchine, William Forsythe, Jiří Kylián, Emio Greco, Johan Inger, Ina Christel Johannesen, …

From early on, Jeroen choreographed alongside his dance career. He seized every opportunity through young choreographer and scenographer programs, resulting in projects such as “Vervlogen 2001” for Belgian National Television (2001), “Jack(L)in the Box” for the Monaco Dance Forum (2011), and various short pieces for the Princess Grace Dance Academy. “Variations on a Black Origami Bird”, “Totally Folk”, “Silhouetter”, “Kiasmus”, ”Hold fast, for if”

His major choreographic breakthrough came in 2012, when Jean-Christophe Maillot commissioned “Kill Bambi” for Les Ballets de Monte Carlo, broadcast live across Europe via Arte Live Web. This paved the way for numerous works with the company, where he was given space as a choreographer-in-residence to evolve his creative voice. His pieces include “Arithmophobia” (2013), “True and False Unicorn” (2015), “L’Enfant et les Sortilèges” (2016), “Massâcre” (2017; revived in Geneva, May 2021), “Aimai-je un rêve?” after L’Après-midi d’un Faune (2018), “Les Nuls” after Pulcinella (2023) and as part of the program “Miniatures” in collaboration with Printemps des arts he creates “Steps for bea(s)ts that never were”.

In 2014, Jeroen transitioned fully into choreography, beginning with his first full-length story ballet “CASSE-NOISETTE” for Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève. The ballet remained on the company’s touring repertory for seven years and was performed at the prestigious Dance Open Festival in St. Petersburg. It joined the repertory of Introdans in December 2024 for four seasons. He returned to Geneva with a double bill, “BA/ROCK”, comprising “Iris” and “Vena Amoris” (October 2016), and revived “Massâcre Anon” in May 2021.

Known for his versatility, Jeroen has created over forty creations for both classical and contemporary companies, including 10 full-length evening works:

“A Mighty Wind” for National Dance Company Wales (2015, later performed at the Sziget Festival), “Pointless” for Ballet National de Marseille (2016), “Ma Mère L’Oye” for Ballet Flanders (2016, broadcast globally), “ORPHIC HYMN”, a triptych for the National Slovenian Ballet (2017), “Sciamachy” for Finnish National Ballet (2019), “DANCE HALL” for Theatre Ballet Moscow (2019), “LA FILLE MAL GARDÉE” for Ballett Basel (2021), and “4Never” for HNK Balet Rijeka (2023),

In Germany, his creations include: “Where Have All the Flowers Gone” for Ballet Nuremberg (2016), “The Great Trust” for Hessisches Staatsballett (2018), “OPEN (S)PACE”, an immersive 360° ballet for Ballet im Revier Gelsenkirchen (2018), (Minute Made) “X” in 2019 and “Farewell in Paris” in 2025 both at Theater Gärtnerplatz, Munich, “DORNRÖSCHEN, Once Upon a Dream” for Leipziger Ballett (2019, nominated for Der Faust 2020), “Der Feuervogel” for Staatsballett Karlsruhe (2021), “AMOR & PSYCHE?” for National theater Mannheim (2022) which was revived as an extended version for Landestheater Tanz Linz (Austria) in January 2026, and “HOKUS & POKUS” for Staatsballett Hannover (2024). His first “gesamtkunstwerk” for Theater Magdeburg “Morgenröte Eines Stiers” (February 2025), “Black dog Noir” for Jersey Ballet (June 2026).

In summer 2022, Jeroen collaborated with Tobias Kratzer on a new staging of Rossini’s “Moïse et Pharaon”, premiering at the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence and Opéra de Lyon. Their partnership continued with “Arabella” at Deutsche Oper Berlin (2023). That same year, he took over the production of “Die Sieben Todsünden” by Kurt Weill at Opera Ballet Vlaanderen, marking his debut as both opera choreographer and opera director. In Ostrava, he creates his new take on “PEER GYNT combining both dance, soloist singer and chorus of the Moravian Silesian State Opera & Ballet Ostrava (May 2025)

In 2025, Jeroen was asked to create 2 repertory solo’s for the BICD Prix25 competition in Brisbane, Australia. This collaboration was renewed for the 2026 edition for which he has created “Thorn” and “Lull”.

Jeroen is currently developing a new full-length triptych for Cottbus Ballett, “DRACULA DRACULA DRACULA” (February 2027), as well as short new work for the Rambert School (March 2027)

The Royal Ballet School of Antwerp will perform Jeroen’s “Flowerwaltz” for the 75 year Anniversary Gala (November 2026).

Over the past decade, Jeroen Verbruggen has been praised by critics, peers, and press alike as one of Europe’s most engaging and sought-after choreographers. His works have been performed in renowned venues such as Maison de la Danse in Lyon and featured in numerous international festivals including Dance Open and Diaghilev P.S. in Russia.

His choreographic world is a visually immersive journey, owing much of its richness to his eclectic collaborations—where haute couture meets circus, tradition, and experimental innovation. Among his many artistic partners are: Charlie le Mindu, ON AURA TOUT VU, Wolfgang Menardi, Paul Surridge, Emmanuel Maria, Tim Van Steenbergen, Clifford Portier, Ines Alda, Emilie Roy, Fabiana Piccioli, Chiara Stephenson, Rémy Nicolas, Ben Ormerod, Samuel Thery, Tina Alloncle, Stefan Levin, Benjamin Magnin, Thomas Mika, Emiliano Ferri, Agalie Vandamme, Sébastien Mari, Sander Loonen, Eva Adler, Atej Tutta, Ana Savic Gecan, Billy Sueiro, Aleksandr Shaikin, Erika Turunen, Dmitry Razumov, Jürgen Kirner, Yura Yang, Teresa Vergho, Eva Veronica Born, Natalia Kitamikado, Marketa Pospisiliva, Guido Badalamenti, Benjamin Stone, Kadi Jurgens, Lili Delis-McCarthy…”