Marco Goecke

Marco Goecke (born 12 April 1972) is a German choreographer currently serving as the artistic director of Ballett Basel since August 2025, and had also held the positions of house choreographer at Stuttgart Ballet, Scapino Ballet, Nederlands Dans Theater and Gauthier Dance. He had additionally choreographed works for Paris Opera Ballet, Berlin State Ballet, Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo and Vienna State Ballet, among others. Die Welt's Manuel Brug called him "the most important choreographer in Germany." In February 2023 he smeared dog feces on the face of a female dance critic who had reviewed him negatively for years. After the attack he was removed from his position as head of Hanover State Opera’s ballet company. In late May 2024 Goecke was announced to be the director of ballet for the Theater Basel for the upcoming season 2025/2026.