From New York City Ballet principal to Hollywood director, Benjamin Millepied defies boundaries.
In short: Benjamin Millepied is a rare polymath of movement. After a decorated career as a principal dancer at the New York City Ballet, he pivoted to choreography and film, founding the LA Dance Project and directing the Paris Opera Ballet. His work bridges the gap between classical tradition and contemporary multimedia art.
Born in Bordeaux in 1977, Millepied began his formal training under his mother, a former dancer, before attending the Conservatoire National in Lyon. His trajectory accelerated in 1992 when he joined the School of American Ballet on a scholarship from the French Ministry. Mentored by the legendary Jerome Robbins, Millepied quickly ascended the ranks of the New York City Ballet, becoming a soloist in 1998 and a principal dancer in 2002. His technical prowess earned him the Prix de Lausanne in 1994 and the Mae L. Wien Award for Outstanding Promise in 1995.
Millepied’s creative ambitions extended far beyond the stage. In 2011, he retired from the New York City Ballet to launch the LA Dance Project, a company designed to foster new works and cross-disciplinary collaborations. His influence soon reached the silver screen; he choreographed the psychological thriller Black Swan in 2009, where he also performed. This cinematic interest evolved into directing, leading to his 2022 feature film debut, Carmen. His multimedia production company, The Amoveo Company, further demonstrates his commitment to blending dance with visual arts and film.
His tenure as Director of Dance at the Paris Opera Ballet, which began in October 2014, was marked by a push for modernization. He introduced an in-house training program for choreographers and established a digital platform for new work. Despite his efforts to revitalize the institution, he resigned in February 2016. Today, Millepied remains a significant figure in contemporary dance, known for commissioning works from composers like Philip Glass and collaborating with artists such as Barbara Kruger, constantly pushing the boundaries of what dance can express in the modern age.
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