The 'Black Swan' choreographer decides to quit as the director of dance just over a year after he took the prestigious position.
- Feb 5, 2016
AceShowbiz - Benjamin Millepied is stepping down as a dance director at the Paris Opera Ballet. The "Black Swan" choreographer cites personal reason as the reason behind his resignation, claiming that he wants to focus on "creation and artistic expression."
The dancer who is married to "Black Swan" star Natalie Portman has directed the Paris premier ballet company since November 2014. He is expected to continue working with the company for the current season when former ballerina Aurelie Dupont takes over the role.
"I am convinced we've opened up things that are really important," Millepied said in a press conference. "The future is bright. What's important for me is to create, to be inspired by the parts. That's what motivated me in the ballet and today this position (the dance director position) isn't for me, it doesn't suit me."
Dupont hinted at directing a more traditional ballet as she paid tribute to her predecessor. "He brought a lot of contemporary choreographers... and new choreographic experiences," she said. "I will do my best, I promise. I love the dancers, deeply. I want to give the Etoiles the ballets in which they will shine. To me the Opera de Paris remains a classical dancers' company open to contemporary dance and it's not the other way around."
Benjamin Millepied's resignation came after he criticized the rigid system and level of dance at Paris Opera Ballet. This reportedly caused tensions between him and some of the company's top dancers.
