Artist Talk: Benjamin Millepied

Benjamin Millepied (French pronunciation: ?[mil' pje]) (born 10 June 1977)^[1] is a French dancer and choreographer, perhaps most widely known for his work in the movie Black Swan in which he starred and choreographed. He became the Director of Dance at theParis Opera Ballet in October 2014.

 

Early life[edit]

Millepied was born in Bordeaux, France.^[2] He is the youngest of three sons.^[3] His ballet training started at the age of eight with his mother, Catherine Flori, a former ballet dancer. His father is Denys Millepied.^[4][5] Between the ages of 13 and 16 he studied with Michel Rahn at the Conservatoire National in Lyon, France.

Career[edit]

In the summer of 1992 Millepied attended classes at the School of American Ballet (SAB) and returned to study full-time in 1993, with a scholarship from the French Ministry(Bourse Lavoisier or Lavoisier Scholarship). Early in his career Millepied was mentored by choreographer Jerome Robbins, who took an interest in him.^[6] At SAB's 1994 Spring Workshop he originated a principal role in Jerome Robbins' premiere of 2 and 3 Part Inventions and also received the Prix de Lausanne.

Choreography[edit]

Year	Title	Venue	Notes
2001	Passages	Conservatoire National
2002	Clapping Music	Conservatoire National	Music by Steve Reich
2002	Triple Duet	Sadler's Wells Theatre	Music by J. S. Bach
2003	Double Aria	Bay Street Theater
2004	On The Other Side	Sadler's Wells Theatre
2005	24 Variations of a Theme By Paganini	School of American Ballet
2005	Circular Motion	Florence Gould Hall
2006	Closer	Joyce Theater	Music and live accompaniment by Philip Glass
2006	Amoveo	Paris Opera Ballet	Set designs by Paul Cox, costumes by Marc Jacobs
2009	Everything Doesn't Happen At Once	Avery Fisher Hall	Music by David Lang
2009	Quasi Una Fantasia	New York City Ballet
2009	Sarabande	New York City Ballet
2010	Plainspoken	New York City Ballet	Music by David Lang
2010	Why am I not where you are	Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts	Music by Thierry Escaich, scenery by Santiago Calatrava
2010	One Thing Leads to Another	Het National Ballet	Music by Nico Muhly, costumes by Rodarte
2011	Troika	American Ballet Theatre
2011	The Bartered Bride	Metropolitan Opera
2012	Khovanshchina	Metropolitan Opera

Originated roles[edit]

Year	Title	Choreographer	Notes
1997	Slavonic Dances	Christopher Wheeldon	Part of the Diamond Project
1997	Brandenburg	Jerome Robbins
1997	La Stravaganza	Angelin Preljocaj
1998	Les Noces	Jerome Robbins
1998	Concerti Armonici	Peter Martins
1999	Swan Lake	Peter Martins
2000	Prism	Helgi Tómasson	Part of the Diamond Project
2002	If By Chance	Melissa Barak	Part of the Diamond Project
2002	Twilight Courante	Stephen Baynes	Part of the Diamond Project
2002	Hallelujah Junction	Peter Martins	Part of the Diamond Project
2003	Guide to Strange Places	Peter Martins
2004	Circle of Fifths	Christopher d'Amboise
2004	Musagète	Boris Eifman
2004	Octet	Peter Martins