Iván Markó

Markó was born in Balassagyarmat.[1][4] He studied dancing at the Hungarian State Ballet Institute in Budapest.[1] After having graduated in 1967, Markó joined the Hungarian State Opera, where he became a principal dancer in 1971.[1]

Markó in 1979

In 1972 dancer, choreographer and opera director Maurice Béjart invited Markó to his Ballet of the 20th Century.[1][4] Markó was shot into fame by dancing the bird in Béjart's rendering of Stravinsky's Firebird.

In 1974 he was ranked in numerous lists as one of the top ten best ballet dancers worldwide.[1][4]

In 1979 Markó established a modern ballet ensemble in Győr, Hungary, with the entire graduating class of the Hungarian State Ballet Institute that year. He was the lead choreographer, dancer and director in the ensemble (in English The Ballet Company of Győr) until 1991.[1]

Markó had served as a choreographer for the Bayreuth Festival from 1985.[1] He also worked at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance.[1] Markó was considered as a guest choreographer in numerous cities.[1]

In 1996, he established the Magyar Fesztivál Ballet, which was also known as the "Hungarian Ballet Festival".[1]

Markó died in April 2022, at the age of 75.[1] With his death announced, mayor of Budapest, Gergely Karácsony was shocked by the news, in which he paid tribute in his Facebook post.[5]

Markó was a recipient of the Kossuth Prize of Hungary in 1983, in which he was a recipient of the Meritorious Artist Prize and SZOT Prize.[1] He also served as a member of the Society of Immortals from 2005.[1] In 2007, Markó was honored the Hungarian Order of Merit.[1] He was also honored as a citizen in his birthplace Balassagyarmat.[1] Markó was a recipient of the Prima Primissima Prize in 2008.[1]

• Iván Markó at IMDb