Benjamin Millepied:
Benjamin Millepied is an esteemed choreographer, filmmaker, and former principal dancer with the New York City Ballet. Born in Bordeaux, France, he spent his early childhood in Senegal until the age of five, where he began his journey in dance. At eleven, Millepied started formal ballet training under Vladimir Skouratoff at the Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux. From 1990 to 1993, he continued his studies at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Lyon with Marie-France Dieulevin and Michel Rahn.
In 1993, Millepied moved to New York to attend the School of American Ballet, studying under Stanley Williams and Adam Lüders. He performed in the original cast of Jerome Robbins’ “2 & 3 Part Inventions.” In 1995, Millepied joined the New York City Ballet (NYCB) and was promoted to Principal Dancer in 2001. During his time at NYCB, he performed an extensive repertory of works by George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins and originated roles in ballets by Alexei Ratmansky, Christopher Wheeldon, Mauro Bigonzetti, Angelin Preljocaj, Peter Martins, and Jerome Robbins.
Millepied began his choreographic career in 2001, founding the troupe Danses Concertantes to showcase his work. In 2006, he served as a choreographer-in-residence at The Baryshnikov Arts Center, creating the solo “Years Later” for Mikhail Baryshnikov. Since 2005, Millepied has choreographed for prestigious companies including NYCB, Paris Opera Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Berlin Staatsoper, Mariinsky Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Lyon Opera Ballet, Geneva Ballet, Rome Opera, and Dutch National Ballet. He has collaborated with artists such as Mark Bradford, Christopher Wool, Barbara Kruger, Liam Gillick, Rodarte, Thierry Escaich, and United Visual Artists, and has created seven ballets with composer Nico Muhly. In 2010, Millepied choreographed and starred in Darren Aronofsky’s award-winning film “Black Swan.”
In 2012, Millepied moved to Los Angeles and co-founded the L.A. Dance Project (LADP) with Charles Fabius. The company has performed extensively at prestigious theaters and non-traditional venues, commissioning numerous dance films. In 2018, LADP found a new home at 2245, serving as the company’s rehearsal and performance studios and a residency space for community dance artists.
In January 2013, Millepied was appointed Director of the Paris Opera Ballet. During his tenure, he launched a dance medicine program, a digital stage, and commissioned new works by William Forsythe, Jerome Bel, Wayne McGregor, Justin Peck, Crystal Pite, and Tino Sehgal. He also revived works by Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker and Maguy Marin and invited the Batsheva Dance Company to perform at the Opera for the first time. Millepied resigned in 2016 to focus on his career as a choreographer and filmmaker. His tenure at the Paris Opera was documented in the critically acclaimed film “Reset” by Thierry Demaizière and Alban Teurlai.
Millepied’s directorial feature debut, “Carmen,” with music by Nicholas Britell, was released by Sony Pictures Classics in 2023. He received a nomination for a Chita Rivera Award for Best Choreography on Film.
In 2022, Millepied moved back to Paris to launch the Paris Dance Project with Solenne Du Hays. This organization integrates dance education into the regular school system to enhance student well-being and promotes various dance events across the city, such as La Ville Dansée. The 2024 edition will feature ten commissions across ten locations in a single day.
In 2023, Millepied created “Romeo & Juliet” for LA Dance Project, which premiered with eleven sold-out shows at La Seine Musicale in Paris. He also choreographed “Be Here Now,” a full-evening dance collaboration with artist Barbara Kruger and composer Andy Akiho. Additionally, Millepied returned to the stage for a duet with pianist Alexandre Tharaud in “Unstill Life.” In 2024, he premiered “Me.You.We.They,” a new dance for LA Dance Project in collaboration with composer Nico Muhly, co-produced by Philharmonie de Paris.