Berlin choreographer Tom Schilling dies

Schilling was born in Thuringia. After studying at the Opera-Ballet School in Dessau, he began his dancing career at venues in Dresden, Leipzig and Weimar.

In 1956 he became ballet director and chief choreographer of the Dresden State Opera. In 1964 he took on the same task at the Komische Oper Berlin, where he set up a dance theater. He retired in 1993.

As long-time chief choreographer of the Komische Oper, Schilling was also awarded the German Dance Prize in 1996. It was said that with his ballets he shaped the image of artistic stage dance in the former GDR.