Scholz trained under famed choreographer and teacher John Cranko, eventually entering the Ballet School of the W‹rttembergischen Staatstheater Stuttgart. After completing his training, he joined the Stuttgart Ballet; a year later he was given a permanent choreographing contract, and retired as a dancer.

He became the ballet director and chief choreographer of the Zurich Opera House at age 26, and directed the Zurich Ballet there for six years, until his appointment at the Leipzig Opera.

Over the course of his career, Scholz choreographed over 100 works, to scores both classical and contemporary, and produced ballets for, among others, the Vienna State Opera, La Scala, the Stuttgart Ballet, and Jir‹ Kylišn's Nederlans Dans Theater.

In 1993, Scholz was appointed professor of choreography at Leipzig's Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy College.

A memorial service at Leipzig's opera house is planned for December 3.