Benjamin Millepied facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Benjamin Millepied
Benjamin Millepied in 2015
Born	(1977-06-10) 10 June 1977 (age 48) Bordeaux, France
Education	Conservatoire National School of American Ballet
Occupation	Choreographer ballet dancer
Years active	2001–present
Spouse(s)	Natalie Portman ​ ​ (m. 2012; div. 2024)​
Children	2
Current group	L.A. Dance Project
Former groups	New York City Ballet

Benjamin Millepied (born June 10, 1977) is a famous French dancer and choreographer. A choreographer is someone who creates dance routines. He has lived and worked in the United States for a long time. He joined the New York City Ballet in 1995 and became a very important dancer there. He also created many dances for this company and other big dance groups.

Benjamin Millepied also started his own dance company called the L.A. Dance Project. From 2014 to 2016, he was the Director of Dance at the famous Paris Opera Ballet in France. You might also know him from the 2010 movie Black Swan, where he choreographed dances and performed as a dancer. He also choreographed a special "sandwalk" for the movie Dune.

Early Life

Benjamin Millepied was born in Bordeaux, France. He is the youngest of three brothers. He started learning ballet when he was eight years old. His first teacher was his mother, Catherine Flory, who was also a ballet dancer.

Between the ages of 13 and 16, he studied at a special dance school in Lyon, France, called the Conservatoire National.

Dance Career

In 1992, Benjamin Millepied took classes at the School of American Ballet (SAB) in the United States. He liked it so much that he returned to study there full-time in 1993. He even received a scholarship to help him with his studies.

A famous choreographer named Jerome Robbins became his mentor, guiding him in his early career. In 1994, Benjamin Millepied performed a main role in a new ballet by Jerome Robbins. He also won an award called the Prix de Lausanne that year.

Dancing at New York City Ballet

Benjamin Millepied joined the New York City Ballet in 1995. He quickly moved up the ranks, becoming a soloist in 1998 and a principal dancer in 2002. A principal dancer is one of the top dancers in a ballet company.

He also started creating his own dances for the New York City Ballet and other major companies like the American Ballet Theatre and the Paris Opera Ballet. From 2006 to 2007, he was a special choreographer at the Baryshnikov Arts Center in New York. He stopped dancing with the New York City Ballet in 2011.

Starting L.A. Dance Project

In 2011, Benjamin Millepied started his own dance company called the L.A. Dance Project. He wanted to create new and exciting dance shows. He worked with other artists like composer Nico Muhly to make the company happen.

In 2012, the L.A. Dance Project found a home at the Los Angeles Theatre Center. Their first big show was in September 2012 at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. The company has performed many new dances and toured around the world, including in Paris, Amsterdam, and London. They even have a special partnership with the LUMA Foundation in France, which gives them a place to work and perform.

Leading the Paris Opera Ballet

In 2013, Benjamin Millepied was chosen to be the director of dance at the famous Paris Opera Ballet. He started this important job in October 2014.

During his time there, he brought in other talented choreographers and started a new training program for dancers. He also helped raise a lot of money for the ballet company. A documentary film called Relève (later called Reset) was made about his work as director. Benjamin Millepied left the Paris Opera Ballet in 2016.

Other Cool Things He's Done

Benjamin Millepied has worked with many modern composers to create music for his dances. He also has special supporters who help fund his dance projects.

You might be surprised to know that his dancing was used for animated children's films! In 2001, his movements were captured for Barbie in the Nutcracker, and again in 2003 for Barbie of Swan Lake.

In 2009, he was the choreographer for the movie Black Swan, which stars Natalie Portman. He also danced in the movie. Later, in 2012, he started his own multimedia company called The Amoveo Company. He has directed many short films and music videos, working with different artists.

He was even a guest judge on the TV show So You Think You Can Dance in 2012. In 2014, he became an advisor for a new Dance Academy in Los Angeles.

Awards and Recognition

Benjamin Millepied has received several awards for his talent.

• In 1994, he won the Prix de Lausanne, a major international ballet competition.
• In 1995, he received the Mae L. Wien Award for Outstanding Promise.
• In 2010, the French Ministry of Culture honored him by making him a Chevalier (Knight) in the Order of Arts and Letters.

Personal Life

Benjamin Millepied with actress Natalie Portman in 2012

Benjamin Millepied met actress Natalie Portman while working on the movie Black Swan in 2009. They got married in California on August 4, 2012. They have two children: a son named Aleph (born in 2011) and a daughter named Amalia (born in 2017). The family lived in Paris for a while when Benjamin Millepied was working at the Paris Opera Ballet. Later, in 2016, they moved to Los Angeles. Benjamin Millepied and Natalie Portman divorced in March 2024.

Choreography

Benjamin Millepied has created many ballets and dance pieces. Here are a few examples of his work:

Originated Roles

Benjamin Millepied created the main roles in many ballets. This means he was the first dancer to perform these parts when the ballets were new.

Filmography

Benjamin Millepied has been involved in several films and videos, both as a dancer, choreographer, and director.

Images for kids

• 

  Benjamin Millepied in 2015

• 

  Benjamin Millepied with actress Natalie Portman in 2012

See also

• Black Swan dance double controversy