Benjamin Millepied

Benjamin Millepied is a French choreographer, director, and former Principal Dancer with New York City Ballet. Born in Bordeaux, he trained at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Lyon with Michel Rahn before moving to New York to study at the School of American Ballet. He has created works for many of the world’s leading dance companies, including New York City Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, Staatsballett Berlin, and the Mariinsky Ballet, collaborating with artists and composers including Barbara Kruger, Mark Bradford, Christopher Wool, Daniel Buren, Nico Muhly, and Gabriella Smith.

In 2010, Millepied choreographed and performed in Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan. He co-founded L.A. Dance Project in 2012 and served as Director of Dance at the Paris Opera from 2014 to 2016, where he commissioned a new generation of choreographers and launched major artistic, digital, and health initiatives.

Millepied made his feature-film directorial debut with Carmen, starring Melissa Barrera and Paul Mescal, released by Sony Pictures Classics in 2023. His recent stage works include Romeo & Juliet, presented in Paris and in a three-week season at New York’s Park Avenue Armory; Be Here Now, created with Barbara Kruger and Gabriella Smith; and Me.You.We.They, with composer Nico Muhly.

Based in Paris, Millepied co-founded Paris Dance Project, dedicated to artistic creation, education, and expanding access to dance. In November 2026, he will present three new productions at the Folies Bergère: Barbara — Du Bout des lèvres, Summerland with November Ultra, and Move Me Once More, an original musical conceived and written with Léa Mysius.

Working across dance, film, theater, and music, Millepied continues to develop new forms of performance and storytelling. He was named a Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur in 2024.

For a full bio, please contact Alice@ladanceproject.org

Benjamin Millepied