Hans van Manen started his career as a dancer back in 1951, soon devoting himself to choreography as well. He created for the Stuttgart Ballet, Bavarian State Ballet in Munich, Berlin State Opera, Huston Ballet, Canadian National Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, Royal Ballet in London, Royal Danish Ballet, Vienna State Opera and others. In 1988, he rejoined the Netherlands Dans Theater as a resident choreographer, where he created more than 40 choreographies. He received a number of prestigious Dutch awards and the German Dance Award (1993) for his contribution to the German dance art within the period of 20 years. Celebrating his 35th anniversary as a choreographer, he received a Knighthood in the Order of Orange Nassau from the Queen of the Netherlands. His 5 tangos for 7 couples, created back in 1977, is his most frequently performed masterpiece throughout the world as well as a part of the "iron repertoire" of all the larger ballet ensembles. Here the choreographer took a liberty to abandon high heels and use ballet points instead. He combined the Spanish elements, hidden in Piazzola's music, with the dance on points, binding the dancers to the astonishing rhythm and feelings, pouring out with the sounds of music. The internationally renowned ballet piece has anchored itself into the hearts of the Ljubljana's audience, whereas one of the dance critics wrote that the direct sensuality of the temperamental Argentinean dance changes in this ballet’s interpretation into almost longing, unreachable and ethereal.