Marco Goecke was born in Wuppertal, Germany. He began his ballet training in 1988 and danced with the Deutsche Staatsoper Berlin and the Theater Hagen Ballet, where he created his first choreographic work, Loch, which was later performed at the International Choreography Competition in Hanover, Germany. In 2001, Mr. Goecke created his first work for the Stuttgart Ballet, Chicks. He has since choreographed several pieces for the Company. Mr. Goecke has also worked in opera, creating a solo for Die verkaufte Braut for the Staatstheatre Stuttgart Opera in 2003. Also in 2003, he entered the Prix Dom Perignon choreographic competition in Hamburg, where he was awarded First Prize for Blushing, a piece for eight dancers. Blushing has since entered the repertory of Stuttgart Ballet and John Neumeier's Hamburg Ballet. He was commissioned to choreograph a pas de deux for a Christmas Gala performance at the Staatstheatre in Stuttgart. Mr. Goecke's choreography Mopey, created for Peter Boal and Company premiered during the Joyce Theater 2004 Season. Mr. Goecke presented his first ballet for Pacific Northwest Ballet in November 2005.