The other major events of the year

  • Monaco Yacht Show
    September 2023
  • Festival International du Cirque de Monte-Carlo
    January 2024
  • The WRC Monte-Carlo Rally
    January 2024
  • Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters
    April 2024
  • Monaco E-Prix
    April 2024
  • Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix
    May 2024

The Ballets de Monte-Carlo

The Ballets de Monte-Carlo is one of the most prestigious artistic events in the Principality.
Love of dance is a long-standing tradition in Monaco, born from the passion of a genius impresario, Sergei Diaghilev.
This beautiful, ephemeral art is admirably represented in the country today by the new Ballets de Monte-Carlo structure, which incorporates the Company, the Monaco Dance Forum Festival and the Princess Grace Academy, led by Jean-Christophe Maillot.

The Ballets: Its Beginnings

The anchor-point of dance in Monaco: The Ballets Russes
1909 marked the beginning of a strong presence of choreographic art in Monaco. Serge de Diaghilev presented for the first time in Paris his Ballets Russes. They set themselves up in Monte-Carlo which became their creative studio for two decades. Diaghilev and his colleagues reformed the ballet of their day in all its forms. At his death in 1929, the company was dissolved. Several personalities and choreographers brought it back to life under a variety of names, but it finally disappeared in 1951.

The Birth of the Current Compagnie des Ballets de Monte-Carlo
In 1985, the Ballets de Monte-Carlo company came into being thanks to the determination of H.R.H. the Princess of Hanover who wished to get involved in the tradition of dance in Monaco. The new company was directed by Ghislaine Thesmar and Pierre Lacotte, then by Jean-Yves Esquerre.

The Company’s Growth
In 1993, H.R.H. the Princess of Hanover appointed Jean-Christophe Maillot as head of the Ballets de Monte-Carlo. With experience as a dancer acquired with Rosella Hightower and John Neumeier, and as choreographer-director of the National Choreographic Centre in Tours, Jean-Christophe Maillot’s appointment was a turning-point for the company. He has created more than 30 ballets for it, several of which have entered the repertoire of great international companies. The Ballets de Monte-Carlo are now sought after in the whole world thanks to Jean-Christophe Maillot’s iconic works such as Vers un pays sage (1995), Roméo et Juliette (1996), Cendrillon (1999), La Belle (2001), Le Songe (2005), Altro Canto (2006), Faust (2007) and LAC (2011).
In addition, Jean-Christophe Maillot has also enriched the company’s repertoire by inviting major choreographers of our era, as well as by allowing emerging choreographers to work with the exceptional tool that is the 50 dancers of the Ballets de Monte-Carlo. Among these guest choreographers have figured in particular: Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Shen Wei, Alonzo King, Emio Greco, Chris Haring, Marco Goecke, Lucinda Childs, William Forsythe, Jiri Kylian, Karole Armitage, Maurice Béjart and Marie Chouinard.
In 2000, Jean-Christophe Maillot established the Monaco Dance Forum, an international shop‑window for dance which presents an eclectic profusion of spectacles, exhibitions, workshops and conferences. The company regularly takes part in this festival as well as the Académie Princesse Grace.

The Future of the Ballets de Monte-Carlo
In 2011, under H.R.H. the Princess of Hanover’s presidency, a new organisation, directed by Jean‑Christophe Maillot brought together these three institutions: the Ballets de Monte-Carlo now focus on the excellence of an international company, the assets of a multifaceted festival and the potential of a high-level school. Creation, training and outreach are now united in Monaco at the service of choreographic art in a way hitherto unseen in the dance world.

LA COMPAGNIE DES BALLETS DE MONTE-CARLO
Place du Casino MC 98000 Monaco
Tel: +377 98 06 28 55 - Fax: +377 98 06 28 59
[email protected]