Rudi van Dantzig was a Dutch choreographer, company director, and writer. He was a pivotal figure in the rise to world renown of Dutch ballet in the latter half of the twentieth century. He was co-director and then artistic director of the Dutch National Ballet from 1968 and 1991, and later did choreography for major companies such as Ballet Rambert, The Royal Ballet, the Royal Danish Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and the Paris Opera Ballet.