L.A. DANCE PROJECT

founding director Benjamin Millepied

dancers

Julia Eichten, Charlie Hodges, Morgan Lugo, Nathan Makolandra, Rachelle Rafailedes, Amanda Wells

italian premiere program, exclusively for Spoleto56 Festival of 2Worlds

choreography Benjamin Millepied

music Philip Glass, Mad Rush for piano

lighting design Roderick Murray

costume construction Lydia Harmon

choreography Merce Cunningham

music La Monte Young, 2 Sounds

décor and costume design Robert Rauschenberg

lighting design Beverly Emmons (based on concepts by Robert Rauschenberg)

staging Jennifer Goggans (assisted by Robert Swinston)

choreography Benjamin Millepied

music composition Nico Muhly

visual installation Christopher Wool

costume design Kate and Laura Mulleavy (Rodarte)

lighting design Roderick Murray

L.A. Dance Project is an artist collective founded by renowned choreographer and dancer Benjamin Millepied, along with composer Nico Muhly, art consultant Matthieu Humery, producer Charles Fabius and film producer Dimitri Chamblas.

L.A. Dance Project’s goal is to create new work and to revive seminal collaborations from influential dance makers. New works by the company endeavor to be multidisciplinary collaborations with various artists: visual artists, musicians, designers, directors and composers. L.A. Dance Project promotes the work of emerging and established creators, contributing to new platforms for contemporary dance.

Thanks to Van Cleef & Arpels for the invaluable support

Born in Bordeaux, France, Benjamin Millepied began his dance training at the age of eight with his mother Catherine, a former modern dancer. After studying classical ballet in France under Michel Rahn at the Conservatoire National de Lyon, Benjamin came to New York City to study at the School of American Ballet in 1992. While at SAB, Benjamin was the recipient of numerous prestigious awards including the French Ministry of Culture’s "Bourse Lavoisier", the "Prix de Lausanne", and the Mae L. Wien "Award for Outstanding Promise". In 1995, Mr. Millepied joined the New York City Ballet, where he quickly rose to the rank of Principal Dancer by 2001. During his career at NYCB, Mr. Millepied danced lead roles in ballets by notable choreographers including George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, and Peter Martins. Mr. Millepied also originated roles in new works by Jerome Robbins, Peter Martins, Angelin Preljocaj, Mauro Bigonzetti, Alexei Ratmansky, and Christopher Wheeldon. In 1999 and 2002 he appeared in featured roles with the NYCB for the nationally televised Live From Lincoln Center broadcast. Mr. Millepied retired from NYCB in 2011. In addition to being a celebrated dancer, Mr. Millepied is also a renowned choreographer who has created works for some of the world’s most well-known dance companies and artists, including the New York City Ballet, the Paris Opera Ballet, American Ballet Theater, Mikhail Baryshnikov, the Mariinsky Ballet, Geneva Opera Ballet, the Lyon Opera Ballet, and Pennsylvania Ballet. Mr. Millepied’s works are regularly performed by dance companies around the world. In 2010, Benjamin became a Chevalier in France’s prestigious "Ordre des Arts et des Lettres". In 2010, Mr. Millepied also choreographed and starred in Darren Aronofsky’s award-winning feature film Black Swan. The same year, he directed his first short film. In 2011, Mr. Millepied directed 5 short films for a multi-media performance entitled Portals. Benjamin is now directing on a regular basis. In 2011, Mr. Millepied became the face of Yves Saint Laurent’s new fragrance "L’Homme Libre". In 2012, Mr. Millepied directed the musical staging for the La Jolla Playhouse’s production of Hands On a Hardbody, which is scheduled to premiere on Broadway in New York City in the spring of 2013. In 2012, Mr. Millepied announced the creation of L.A. Dance Project, his new dance company. L.A. Dance Project’s inaugural performances, commissioned by The Music Center, feature a new work choreographed by Mr. Millepied with music by Nico Muhly, set design by artist Christopher Wool, and costumes by Rodarte. L.A. Dance Project will tour the United States and internationally into 2013. Benjamin Millepied will be the new Director of the Paris Opera Ballet, beginning September 2014.