Charles Czarny (1931–2021) was an American-born dancer, choreographer, and teacher whose career became deeply rooted in the Dutch contemporary dance world. Born in Chicago, he trained in the United States before making his mark internationally — most notably as a dancer with Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT), the pioneering company founded in The Hague in 1959. At NDT he worked alongside foundational figures of European contemporary dance, including Hans van Manen, forming the kind of close artistic bonds that defined NDT’s collaborative early years.
As a choreographer, Czarny created works that entered the repertoires of companies across the United States and Europe. His ballets — including Sunny Day, Concerto Grosso, and Bach Brandenburg #3 — were performed by companies such as BalletMet Columbus and Bat-Dor Dance Company of Israel, reflecting both the breadth of his creative reach and his fluency across the classical and contemporary idioms.
Czarny’s influence extended equally through his teaching. After his performing career, he became one of the most respected dance educators in the Netherlands, joining the faculty of the Rotterdam Dance Academy, where he shaped generations of dancers and choreographers. His students have gone on to prominent international careers — among them Anouk van Dijk, founder of the movement practice Countertechnique and former artistic director of Australian company Chunky Move, who has credited Czarny as her most transformative teacher.
Charles Czarny passed away on April 26, 2021, in The Hague.