From Here On Out |
Benjamin Millepied was born
in Bordeaux, France. He began his dance training at the age of eight with
his mother, a former modern dancer. Millepied entered the Conservatoire
National in Lyon, France at 13, where he studied ballet with Michel Rahn
until he was 16 years old. In the Summer of 1992, he went to New York
to study at the School of American Ballet (SAB), the official school of
New York City Ballet, and returned with a scholarship from the French
Ministry (Bourse Lavoisier) to study full-time in the Fall of 1993. Millepied
originated a principal role in Jerome Robbins’ world premiere of
2 & 3 Part Inventions set to music by Bach at SAB’s
1994 Spring Workshop. He received the Prix de Lausanne Award in 1994,
was the recipient of the Mae L. Wien Award for Outstanding Promise in
1995, and was invited to become a member of New York City Ballet’s
corps de ballet. Millepied was made a principal dancer in the Spring of
2001.At New York City Ballet, Millepied has danced featured roles in George Balanchine’s Agon, Ballo della Regina, Coppélia, Divertimento from Le Baiser de la Fée, The Nutcracker, Harlequinade, Rubies, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Raymonda Variations, La Source, Stars and Stripes, Symphony in C, Tarantella, Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux, Theme and Variations, Valse-Fantasie; Jerome Robbins’ 2 & 3 Part Inventions, Dances at a Gathering, Fancy Free, A Suite of Dances, In the Night, The Four Seasons, Interplay, Piano Pieces and West Side Story Suite. Additionally, Millepied originated roles in Peter Martins’ Hallelujah Junction and Swan Lake; Angelin Preljocaj’s La Stravaganza; Robbins’ Brandenburg and Les Noces; and Mauro Bigonzetti’s Vespro and In Vento. In 1999 and 2002, Millepied appeared in featured roles with New York City Ballet for the nationally televised Live From Lincoln Center broadcast. As a choreographer, Millepied’s works include Passages for the Conservatoire National de Lyon (2001); Triple Duet performed at Sadler’s Wells, London (2002) and Circular Motion also premiered in London (2004); Chaccone, a dance film, co-directed by filmmaker Olivier Simola (2003); On the Other Side performed at Maison de la Danse, Lyon (2004); Double Aria danced by New York City Ballet, original music by Daniel Ott (2005); 28 Variations on a Theme by Paganini for the School of American Ballet (2005); an original full-length Casse Noisette for the Grand Theatre de Geneve with set designs and costumes by artist Paul Cox (2005); Closer as part of Benjamin Millepied and Company season at the Joyce Theater New York, with live accompaniment by Philip Glass (2006); Capriccio for American Ballet Theatre’s Studio Company (2006); Years Later a solo work for Mikhail Baryshnikov in collaboration with Mr. Simola (2006); and Amoveo (2006) for the Paris Opera Ballet in collaboration with set design by Paul Cox and costumes by Marc Jacobs. In 2004 and 2005, Millepied directed the Morriss Center Dance Workshop in Bridgehampton, New York.. In 2006, Millepied was “choreographer in residence” to the Baryshnikov Arts Center, New York. He was also commissioned by the Grand Theatre de Geneve (Petrouchka) in October 2007 and by The Paris Opera Ballet in 2008. Millepied’s forthcoming commissions include works for The Paris Opera Ballet (2008) and the Grand Theatre de Geneve (Petrouchka October 2007). In 2008, Millepied choreographed his first work for American Ballet Theatre – From Here On Out. |
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