he started his dancing career in stockholm's cullberg ballet and one year later he joined, nederlands dans theater, with artistic director jiří kylián and remained with the company for ten years. in 1983 he choreographed the "jardí tancat" (" shut garden" in catalan) to music composed by maria del mar bonet. they were awarded with the first prize in the internationaler choreographischer wettbewerb, köln. in 1988, duato was appointed ndt resident choreographer together with hans van manen and jiří kylián.