The Belgian-Colombian choreographer Annabelle Lopez Ochoa (born in 1973) received her dance training at the Royal Ballet School of Flanders, in Belgium. After dancing for twelve years, notably as a soloist with Ballet Scapino, she decided to devote herself entirely to choreography in 2003. That same year, the daily newspaper NRC considered her "the rising star of the Dutch dance scene" and seven years later, the Temecula Performing Arts Examiner would write: "Ochoa is truly a masterful choreographer who has understood what dance can and should be in a constantly evolving industry. »

A sought-after and award-winning choreographer, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa has created works for over 40 companies worldwide, including Scapino Ballet Rotterdam, Dutch National Ballet, Djazzex, Ballet de Genève, Royal Ballet of Flanders, Gothenburg Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, BalletX, Luna Negra Dance Theater, Ballet National de Marseille, Saarbrücken and Augsburg Ballets, Jacoby & Pronk, Chemnitzer Ballet, Ballet Hispanico, Morphoses Wheeldon Company, Whim W’Him, IncolBallet de Colombia, Finnish National Ballet, Compañia Nacional de Danza de Madrid, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Scottish Ballet, Washington Ballet, Nacional Dominicano, the Austin, Atlanta, Grand Rapids and Moscow Ballets, Ballet Nacional de Cuba, West Australian Ballet, Danza Contemporanea de Cuba, Ballet Nacional Chileno, and the Ballet du Munich State Theatre am Gartnerplatz Theatre, Manila Ballet, the Daniil Simkin Intensio Project, Cincinnati Ballet, Silicon Valley Ballet, Ballet Joffrey, English National Ballet, Ballet Black, and the New York City Ballet.

A versatile choreographer, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa works across dance, theatre, opera, and musical theatre, and also collaborates on fashion projects, including the Van Gogh Museum project by renowned Dutch fashion designers Viktor & Rolf.

She is a member of the dance-theatre collective Die Fantasten, for which she has co-directed five successful full-length productions, presented in numerous theatres and festivals throughout the Netherlands.

In 2009, she created Zip Zap Zoom for the company, which was named one of the top 10 dance moments of the year by the Pittsburgh Gazette, the Boston Globe, and the Montreal Gazette, and recognized as one of the top 10 dance events in San Diego and Chicago.

Her work has received numerous awards. In 2016, Broken Wings, created for the English National Ballet, was nominated for a National UK Dance Award for Best Classical Work. In 2015, Sombrerisimo, created for Ballet Hispanico, received the Villanueva Prize in Cuba. In 2012, A Streetcar Named Desire was nominated for the prestigious Olivier Award (UK), received the Best Classical Choreography Award from the National Dance Awards Circle Critics’ Circle (UK), and was awarded Best Dance Production of 2012 by Southbank Sky Arts. In 2007, Annabelle was selected to join the prestigious Choreography Institute of the New York City Ballet. In 2002, Replay received first prize and the audience prize at the Bornem Choreographers Competition, and in 2001, Clair/Obscur won third prize at the Hanover Choreographers Competition.

Photo: T. Tiel-Groenestege