ARTISTIC DIRECTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER
DUŠAN TÝNEK is a Brooklyn-based choreographer, dancer, artistic director, and artist known for his striking blend of theatricality and musicality in formally structured modern dance. Týnek has garnered much critical acclaim and built an impressive reputation for productions known for their high level of innovation, sophistication, expert craftsmanship and exceptional level of artistry from its dancers, live musicians, and designers.
Týnek was born and grew up in Czechoslovakia, where he first developed passions for both science and the arts. In addition to an early interest and natural aptitude for music, Týnek became a successful, internationally competitive ballroom dancer as a teen. Following the fall of Communism, he left for the U.S. to pursue a degree in Biology. While a student at Bard College, Týnek was reacquainted with dance via Judson Church alum Aileen Passloff who introduced him to flamenco, and later ballet and modern dance.
Following graduation from Bard, Týnek moved to NYC upon the recommendation of one of the earliest Cunningham dancers - Albert Reid - who suggested he audition for a scholarship at the Merce Cunningham Studio, which he won and subsequently spent his dance training there for the next two years. He owes much of his early influences and inspiration to both Lucinda Childs and Merce Cunningham, who initially awarded him the Chris Komar scholarship (personally funded by Cunningham) and who subsequently tutored him while Týnek served as an understudy for the Merce Cunningham Dance Company (RUG). Týnek has performed for twenty years with numerous choreographers and companies including Lucinda Childs Dance Company, Douglas Dunn, Molissa Fenley, Ben Munisteri, Randy James Danceworks – and Dance Works Rotterdam in the Netherlands (2001-2002) among many others. While in the Netherlands, Týnek choreographed Wardrobe Spectre for Dance Works Rotterdam, which served as inspiration to return to NYC and begin choreographing for his own company.
Since founding his own company Dušan Týnek Dance Theatre (DT)² in 2003, Týnek has created over 30 dances, choreographed for opera, fashion shows, art installations and held 10 critically-acclaimed seasons in major dance venues in NYC (Brooklyn Academy of Music – Fisher Theater, The Joyce Theater, New York Live Arts, The Kitchen, Dance Theatre Workshop, Tribeca Performing Arts Center, Baruch College, John Jay College, The Ailey Theater, Brooklyn Lyceum, etc.). His productions have been named as one of the best of the year on multiple occasions by The NY Times (2009) and the Huffington Post (2016). Týnek has been lauded “an undoubted talent” by the NY Times and other major and international press. Critics and audiences alike have praised his imagination, command of structure, and genuine ability to convey emotion and atmosphere through an original dance vocabulary that naturally bonds classical and modern techniques. His scientific and artistic fascination with order and composition deeply influence his unique creations. Týnek collaborates regularly with other extraordinary contemporary artists of different disciplines including composer Aleksandra Vrebalov, choreographer Lucinda Childs, writer Cynthia Polutanovich, lighting designer Roderick Murray, and the musical quartet ETHEL.
Týnek has been recognized with commissioning grants from the National Endowment for the Arts (2012), NYC Dept. of Cultural Affairs (2005-current) and the Harkness (2006), Greenwall (2010), and O’Donnell-Green Music and Dance (2012, 2014, 2016) foundations, and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care (2011-2018). He has received support and travel funds from the Trust for Mutual Understanding (2009, 2013), the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation (2009), and The Ford Foundation (2003-2018). He has also been the recipient of fellowships and residencies from the Bogliasco Foundation in Italy (2012), The Hermitage Artist Retreat in Englewood, FL (2014, 2015), Baryshnikov Arts Center (2013), Djerassi in CA (2016), the CUNY Dance Initiative residency in NYC (2018, 2019), Kaatsbaan International Center for Dance (2009, 2012, 2017), The Joyce Soho (2004), Windhover PAC (2010-2018), Tribeca PAC (2012), Hillsborough Community College (2011, 2018), Mount Tremper Arts (2008), UNC Wilmington (2015); and a winner of the Choreographic Fellowship at the University of Kansas (2011).
In addition to stage work, Tynek has garnered a devoted following for his site-specific work. He has been commissioned to create original pieces for museums - The Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY (2016, 2018), The Ringling Museum of Art, FL (2014), James Turrell’s “Joseph’s Coat” Skyspace in Sarasota, FL (2015) and James Turrell’s “Twilight Epiphany” at the University of Houston, TX (2017) for its inaugural opening of the Moody Center for the Arts; and The Queens Museum of Art (2006). He has also created seven original evening-length performances for seven different flooded granite quarries on Cape Ann, MA (2012-2018) utilizing the topography and history of each individual location (e.g. grounds and studios by the great American artists Walter Hancock and Paul Manship).
Týnek has taught, set and created work on students at the Mark Morris Center, The Ailey Fordham School, Marymount Manhattan College, University of Kansas, Skidmore College, Bard College, Oakland University, Endicott College, SUNY Geneseo, UNC-Wilmington, Hillsborough Community College, San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, Saint Petersburg Dance Institute (Russia), Bytom Dance Festival (Poland), Ballet School Novi Sad (Serbia), and The Prague Conservatory (Czech Republic). His dances have been seen across the US from California to Massachusetts, and internationally in Poland, Russia and Serbia.
Týnek was born and grew up in Czechoslovakia, where he first developed passions for both science and the arts. In addition to an early interest and natural aptitude for music, Týnek became a successful, internationally competitive ballroom dancer as a teen. Following the fall of Communism, he left for the U.S. to pursue a degree in Biology. While a student at Bard College, Týnek was reacquainted with dance via Judson Church alum Aileen Passloff who introduced him to flamenco, and later ballet and modern dance.
Following graduation from Bard, Týnek moved to NYC upon the recommendation of one of the earliest Cunningham dancers - Albert Reid - who suggested he audition for a scholarship at the Merce Cunningham Studio, which he won and subsequently spent his dance training there for the next two years. He owes much of his early influences and inspiration to both Lucinda Childs and Merce Cunningham, who initially awarded him the Chris Komar scholarship (personally funded by Cunningham) and who subsequently tutored him while Týnek served as an understudy for the Merce Cunningham Dance Company (RUG). Týnek has performed for twenty years with numerous choreographers and companies including Lucinda Childs Dance Company, Douglas Dunn, Molissa Fenley, Ben Munisteri, Randy James Danceworks – and Dance Works Rotterdam in the Netherlands (2001-2002) among many others. While in the Netherlands, Týnek choreographed Wardrobe Spectre for Dance Works Rotterdam, which served as inspiration to return to NYC and begin choreographing for his own company.
Since founding his own company Dušan Týnek Dance Theatre (DT)² in 2003, Týnek has created over 30 dances, choreographed for opera, fashion shows, art installations and held 10 critically-acclaimed seasons in major dance venues in NYC (Brooklyn Academy of Music – Fisher Theater, The Joyce Theater, New York Live Arts, The Kitchen, Dance Theatre Workshop, Tribeca Performing Arts Center, Baruch College, John Jay College, The Ailey Theater, Brooklyn Lyceum, etc.). His productions have been named as one of the best of the year on multiple occasions by The NY Times (2009) and the Huffington Post (2016). Týnek has been lauded “an undoubted talent” by the NY Times and other major and international press. Critics and audiences alike have praised his imagination, command of structure, and genuine ability to convey emotion and atmosphere through an original dance vocabulary that naturally bonds classical and modern techniques. His scientific and artistic fascination with order and composition deeply influence his unique creations. Týnek collaborates regularly with other extraordinary contemporary artists of different disciplines including composer Aleksandra Vrebalov, choreographer Lucinda Childs, writer Cynthia Polutanovich, lighting designer Roderick Murray, and the musical quartet ETHEL.
Týnek has been recognized with commissioning grants from the National Endowment for the Arts (2012), NYC Dept. of Cultural Affairs (2005-current) and the Harkness (2006), Greenwall (2010), and O’Donnell-Green Music and Dance (2012, 2014, 2016) foundations, and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care (2011-2018). He has received support and travel funds from the Trust for Mutual Understanding (2009, 2013), the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation (2009), and The Ford Foundation (2003-2018). He has also been the recipient of fellowships and residencies from the Bogliasco Foundation in Italy (2012), The Hermitage Artist Retreat in Englewood, FL (2014, 2015), Baryshnikov Arts Center (2013), Djerassi in CA (2016), the CUNY Dance Initiative residency in NYC (2018, 2019), Kaatsbaan International Center for Dance (2009, 2012, 2017), The Joyce Soho (2004), Windhover PAC (2010-2018), Tribeca PAC (2012), Hillsborough Community College (2011, 2018), Mount Tremper Arts (2008), UNC Wilmington (2015); and a winner of the Choreographic Fellowship at the University of Kansas (2011).
In addition to stage work, Tynek has garnered a devoted following for his site-specific work. He has been commissioned to create original pieces for museums - The Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY (2016, 2018), The Ringling Museum of Art, FL (2014), James Turrell’s “Joseph’s Coat” Skyspace in Sarasota, FL (2015) and James Turrell’s “Twilight Epiphany” at the University of Houston, TX (2017) for its inaugural opening of the Moody Center for the Arts; and The Queens Museum of Art (2006). He has also created seven original evening-length performances for seven different flooded granite quarries on Cape Ann, MA (2012-2018) utilizing the topography and history of each individual location (e.g. grounds and studios by the great American artists Walter Hancock and Paul Manship).
Týnek has taught, set and created work on students at the Mark Morris Center, The Ailey Fordham School, Marymount Manhattan College, University of Kansas, Skidmore College, Bard College, Oakland University, Endicott College, SUNY Geneseo, UNC-Wilmington, Hillsborough Community College, San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, Saint Petersburg Dance Institute (Russia), Bytom Dance Festival (Poland), Ballet School Novi Sad (Serbia), and The Prague Conservatory (Czech Republic). His dances have been seen across the US from California to Massachusetts, and internationally in Poland, Russia and Serbia.
