Jean-Christophe Maillot Choreographer

Biography

Born in 1960, Jean-Christophe Maillot studied dance and piano at the Conservatoire National de Région de Tours before joining the École Internationale de Danse of Rosella Hightower in Cannes, where he trained until winning the Prix de Lausanne in 1977. He was then engaged by John Neumeier at the Hamburg Ballet, where he performed for five years as a soloist in leading roles. An accident abruptly ended his dancing career. In 1983, he was appointed choreographer and director of the Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Tours, which he transformed into a Centre Chorégraphique National in 1989. There, he created around twenty ballets and founded the dance festival Le Chorégraphique in 1985.

In 1987, he created Le Mandarin Merveilleux for the Ballets de Monte-Carlo, which caused a sensation. He became the company’s artistic advisor for the 1992–1993 season and was appointed choreographer-director by H.S.H. Princess of Hanover in September 1993.

His leadership gave new momentum to the 50-dancer company. In Monaco, he has created over 45 ballets that have helped build the international reputation of the Ballets de Monte-Carlo, including Vers un pays sage (1995), Roméo et Juliette (1996), Cendrillon (1999), La Belle (2001), Le Songe (2005), Altro Canto (2006), Faust (2007), LAC (2011), CHORE (2013), Casse-Noisette Compagnie (2013), Aleatorio (2016), Abstract Life (2018), Core Meu (2019), and Coppél-i.A. (2019). His repertoire has been performed by major international companies such as Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, the Royal Swedish Ballet, the National Ballet of Korea, the Stuttgart Ballet, the Royal Danish Ballet, the Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève, Pacific Northwest Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Béjart Ballet Lausanne, Teatro alla Scala Ballet, and the Paris Opera Ballet.

In 2007, he directed his first opera, Faust, at the Hessian State Theatre, followed in 2009 by Norma for the Opéra de Monte-Carlo. In 2007, he directed his first choreographic film, Cendrillon, followed by Le Songe in 2008. In 2009, he developed the program and coordinated the Centenary of the Ballets Russes in Monaco, which brought more than 50 companies and choreographers to the principality for a year, attracting 60,000 spectators.

In 2011, under the presidency of H.S.H. the Princess of Hanover, the Ballets de Monte-Carlo combined the company, the Monaco Dance Forum, and the Princess Grace Academy into a single organization. Jean-Christophe Maillot was appointed head of this structure, which now brings together the excellence of an international company, the assets of a multifaceted festival, and the potential of a top-level school. In 2014, he was named Commander of the Order of Cultural Merit of the Principality of Monaco by H.S.H. Albert II of Monaco, and in 2015, Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters.

He received the Life Time Achievement Award from the Prix de Lausanne in 2018 and the Josefina Méndez International Dance Prize in 2025.

Currently in

Immerse in the Paris Opera universe

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