Les Ballets De Monte-Carlo
Celebrating Its 30th Anniversary
presents
Jean-Christophe Maillot’s
Cinderella
Feb 18 – 20, 2016
at New York City Center
Principality Hosts Anniversary Celebrations Showcasing Monaco’s Cultural Heritage, Featuring
An Exhibition of Behind-the-Scenes Ballet Photographs at Christie’s Auction House and
A Monégasque Culinary Week at Circo and Le Cirque Restaurants
New York, NY, January 7, 2016 – Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo will celebrate its 30th anniversary with Jean–Christophe Maillot’s Cinderella, running for four performances, Feb 18 – 20, 2016 at New York City Center. Cinderella will be presented by Les Ballets De Monte-Carlo under the Presidency of H.R.H. the Princess of Hanover, in association with New York City Center and Ardani Artists.
“Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo is honored to be returning to New York as part of our 30th Anniversary celebration,” said Jean-Christophe Maillot. “For three decades, we have presented a diverse and acclaimed repertoire in Monaco and on tour throughout the world. We are proud to celebrate our Anniversary with audiences in the United States, and we are thrilled to be bringing Cinderella, a ballet that occupies a central role in our repertoire, to New York City Center.”
Cinderella (1999), choreographed by Jean-Christophe Maillot, strips the classic fairy tale of its sugar and explores the untold story of Cinderella’s mother, a vision of lost happiness, who returns from the dead in the form of a fairy godmother. It is a poignant meditation on love and loss, in which the departed shape the future of those left behind. It is also a funny, incisive take on a society crammed full of artifice. Cinderella features music by Sergueï Prokofiev, stage design by Ernest Pignon-Ernest, costume design by Jérôme Kaplan, and lighting by Dominique Drillot.
In conjunction with Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo’s 30th Anniversary, the Consulate General of Monaco and Monaco Government Tourist Office in New York, with the support of the Embassy of Monaco to the United States, presents Monaco Takes New York, a week-long celebration showcasing the Principality’s rich cultural heritage. The series of events includes an exclusive invitation-only Cinderella opening night reception presented by Cartier, “Inside Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo” exhibition of behind-the-scenes photographs by Monaco-born Alice Blangero at the New York Headquarters of world-renowned auctioneers Christie’s (Feb. 17-21), and a farm-to-table Monégasque culinary week “Flavors of Monaco” with guest chef Paolo Sari, Executive Chef of the Monte-Carlo Beach’s Elsa – the world’s only 100% organic Michelin-starred restaurant – at legendary Circo and Le Cirque restaurants (Feb. 15-20). For more information, visit www.monaco-nyc.com
Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo Company, celebrating its 30th Anniversary this season, was established in 1985 through an initiative spearheaded by H.R.H. the Princess of Hanover under the direction of Ghislaine Thesmar and Pierre Lacotte, followed by Jean-Yves Esquerre. Jean-Christophe Maillot joined the company as artistic consultant in 1992, and was promoted to the rank of Choreographer-Director in 1993. Today, the Company consists of 50 dancers, and its repertoire includes works from the Ballets Russes and contemporary pieces from Jean-Christophe Maillot as well as acclaimed and emerging guest choreographers. The company has toured to France, the United States, China and the U.K., and will be touring to Cuba, Switzerland and Germany during its anniversary season. Dance in Monaco underwent a major and historical change in 2011, when H.R.H. the Princess of Hanover combined Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo company, the Monaco Dance Forum and the Princess Grace Academy into a single organization. Jean-Christophe Maillot was appointed head of this company, which now unites the excellence of an international company, the benefits of a multi-format festival and the potential of a high-level school. http://www.balletsdemontecarlo.com/?lg=en
Jean-Christophe Maillot studied dance and piano at the Conservatoire National de Région de Tours. He won the Prix de Lausanne in 1977 and went on to dance principal roles as a soloist at the Hamburg Ballet for five years. An accident brought his dancing career to an abrupt end. In 1983, he was appointed choreographer and director of the Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Tours, which later became a National Centre of Choreography. He became Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo’s Artistic Advisor for the 1992-1993 season and was appointed Director-Choreographer by H.R.H. the Princess of Hanover in September 1993. His arrival set the company on a new path that quickly developed the level of maturity and excellence for which this company is renowned. He has created more than 35 ballets for the company, some of which have forged the reputation of Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo across the world. Several of these works are now included in the repertoires of major international ballet companies. Maillot is known for his spirit of openness and his commitment to inviting choreographers with a different style to create for the company.
In 2000 he created the Monaco Dance Forum, an international showcase for dance. In 2009, he developed the content and coordinated the Centenary of the Ballets Russes in Monaco, which featured over 50 companies and choreographers. In 2011, H.R.H. the Princess of Hanover appointed Maillot head of Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, a new organization uniting the Ballets de Monte Carlo Company, the Monaco Dance Forum and the Princess Grace Academy under a single organization. In 2015, Maillot won three Golden Mask awards for La Mégère Apprivoisée.
Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo gratefully acknowledges support from its Official Partners:
The Principality of Monaco, CFM Monaco Private Banking, Holt Global, and The Association des Amis des Ballets de Monte-Carlo.
Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo’s New York performances are presented with the support of the Embassy of the Principality of Monaco to the United States, the Consulate General of Monaco in New York, and the Monaco Government Tourist Office.
Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo will present four performances at New York City Center according to the following schedule: Thursday, February 18 at 8 pm; Friday, February 19 at 8 pm, Saturday, February 20 at 2 and 8 pm. Tickets start at $50 and can be purchased online at www.NYCityCenter.org, by calling CityTix® at (212) 581-1212, or at the City Center Box Office at 131 W. 55th St. (between 6th & 7th Aves). For more information, please visit www.NYCityCenter.org.
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Helene Davis Public Relations
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