L.A. Dance Project (LADP) is a contemporary ballet company based in Los Angeles. It was founded in 2011 by choreographer and dancer Benjamin Millepied. It is currently made up of 7 dancers, and led by Millepied.

History Launched in 2011 as an art collective with a commission from the Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at the Los Angeles Music Center., L.A. Dance Project was founded by Millepied, Nico Muhly, Nicholas Britell, art advisor Matthieu Humery and producer Charles Fabius. L.A. Dance Project premiered at Walt Disney Concert Hall on September 22, 2012. The program featured Quintett by William Forsythe, Winterbranch by Merce Cunningham, and Moving Parts by Millepied, in a collaboration with composer Nico Muhly and visual artist Christopher Wool.

Shortly after founding the company, Millepied was appointed the Director of the Paris Opera Ballet, and for two years, he ran both companies concurrently. Millepied returned to Los Angeles, and full-time to L.A. Dance Project in 2016.

International acclaim The company has toured all over the world, performing in venues and festivals including the Edinburgh International Festival, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Théâtre du Châtelet, Sadlers Wells, and Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay.

Collaboration with Van Cleef & Arpels

Since its founding in 1896, luxury jewellery brand Van Cleef & Arpels has drawn inspiration from dance, with the first ballerina clips appearing from the Maison in the 1940s. The collaboration between L.A. Dance Project and Van Cleef & Arpels began in 2012, when Nicolas Bos, CEO of VCA, met Millepied, and the jeweller commissioned a project, the Gems trilogy. Gems, comprising Reflections (2012), Hearts and Arrows (2014) and On The Other Side (2016), marked the continuation of the collaborative relationship between Van Cleef & Arpels and choreographers, which began with George Balanchine's 1967 opus Jewels, originally suggested by Claude Arpels.

The relationship between L.A. Dance Project and Van Cleef & Arpels has continued far beyond the initial collaboration on Gems, with the Maison partnering on the creation of multiple works for the company. Most recently, to mark the premiere Millepied's Romeo and Juliet Suite, the Maison unveiled a new collection, retelling the story through jewellery pieces.

In 2021, Van Cleef & Arpels furthered their commitment to supporting the creation and performance of dance, with the Dance Reflections initiative, which, in addition to supporting L.A. Dance Project, now supports choreographers and companies around the world.

Performance space In 2017, L.A. Dance Project opened their first designated rehearsal and performance space in Los Angeles at 2245 East Washington Boulevard. In addition to daily rehearsal, the company presents regular performances in the space, often using it to premiere new works

In addition to company repertory performances, L.A. Dance Project frequently partners with other dance companies and organisations to present their work in the performance space.

The company now offers artist residencies through the LAUNCH:LA initiative. The residency awards free use of the performance space to emerging choreographers and dance makers, also awarding them production creation and artist stipends.

Repertory

Year Repertory Choreographer Premiered Notes20195 Live Calibrations Madeline HollanderTheatre des Champs-Elysees, Paris Music by Celia Hollander. Later performed at the Louvre Abu Dhabi2019Adagio in B Minor Janie Taylor L.A. Dance Project Performance Space Taylor's Choreography debut 2012Attitude du Cage Nathan Makolandra and Julia EichtenSmithsonian Museum, Washington D.C. Performed as part of John Cage Centennial2018Chapter Song Kyle Abraham Moody Performance Hall, Dallas2006CloserBenjamin MillepiedJoyce Theater, New York CityCreated by Millepied prior to creation of L.A. Dance Project2015Harbor MeSidi Larbi CherkaouiThéâtre du Châtelet, Paris2014Hearts and ArrowsBenjamin Millepied Olympia Theatre, Miami2014HelixJustin PeckWalt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles2016HomecomingBenjamin MillepiedThe Theatre, Ace Hotel Los AngelesMusic performed live by Rufus Wainwright2018HomewardBenjamin MillepiedHauser & Wirth, Los AngelesMusic by Bryce Dessner2019I fall, I flow, I meltBenjamin MillepiedL.A. Dance Project Performance Space Costumes by Alessandro Sartori2014II Acts for the BlindRoy Assaf Opéra de Saint-Étienne in collaboration with Biennale de la danse de Lyon 2017In Silence We SpeakBenjamin MillepiedJoyce Theater, New York City Music by David Lang2019KinaesonataBella LewitzkyTheatre des Champs-Elysees, Paris Revival of work from 1970. New scenic design by Charles Gaines2019KoraCharm La'DonnaL.A. Dance Project Performance Space Scenic design by Njideka Akunyili Crosby2016Martha Graham DuetsMartha GrahamJoyce Theater, New York City Excerpted from Canticle for Innocent Comedians and Diversion of Angels2016MinEventMerce CunninghamHammer Museum, Los AngelesArranged and Staged by Silas Riener 2013Morgan's Last ChugEmanuel GatMaison de la danse, Lyon 2012Moving PartsBenjamin MillepiedWalt Disney Concert Hall, Los AngelesMusic by Nico Muhly, Visual Installation by Christopher Wool2013Murder BalladesJustin PeckMaison de la danse, LyonVisual Installation by Sterling Ruby2021Night BloomJanie TaylorL.A. Dance Project, 2245 East Washington Blvd Premiered in outdoor performance space, during COVID-19 pandemic2016On The Other SideBenjamin MillepiedSadlers Wells, LondonArt by Mark Bradford2017Orpheus HighwayBenjamin MillepiedJoyce Theater, New York CitySet to Triple Quartet by Steve Reich2014Peripheral StreamHiroaki UmedaThéâtre du Châtelet, Paris2012QuintettWilliam Forsythe Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los AngelesRevival of work from 19932013ReflectionsBenjamin Millepied Théâtre du Châtelet, ParisVisual Installation and Costume Design by Barbara Kruger2022Romeo and Juliet Suite Benjamin Millepied La Seine Musicale, ParisAdaptation of Romeo and Juliet by Sergei Prokofiev. Originally performed in a shortened version with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Gustavo Dudamel2022Be Here NowBenjamin Millepied Théâtre du Châtelet, ParisVisual and Video Installation by Barbara Kruger, Music by Andy Akiho and Caroline Shaw2019Rising WaterGianna Reisen L.A. Dance Project Performance Space2018Run From MeShannon Gillen Musco Center for the Arts, Chapman University 2009SarabandeBenjamin Millepied Maison de la danse, Lyon Originally choreographed for Millepied's pick-up troupe Danses Concertantes2022Quartet for FiveBobbi Jene Smith and Or SchraiberThéâtre du Châtelet, Paris2022Elastic BalletMadeline HollanderThéâtre du Châtelet, Paris2022Everyone Keeps MePam TanowitzThéâtre du Châtelet, ParisOriginally created for the Royal Ballet, London2017Second QuartetNoé SoulierLa Cours des Forges, Parc des Ateliers, ArlesCreated during LUMA Foundation residency2020Solo at DuskBobbi Jene Smith and Or SchraiberL.A. Dance Project Performance Space Premiered in outdoor performance space, during COVID-19 pandemic2019Split StepEmily Mast and Zack Winokur in collaboration with dancers of L.A. Dance ProjectL.A. Dance Project Performance Space 2020The BetweensJermaine Spivey and Spenser Theberge in collaboration with dancers of L.A. Dance ProjectL.A. Dance Project Performance SpacePremiered in outdoor performance space, during COVID-19 pandemic2019(untitled) (2018/19)Tino SehgalTheatre des Champs-Elysees, ParisLater performed at the Louvre Abu Dhabi2012WinterbranchMerce CunninghamWalt Disney Concert Hall, Los AngelesRevival of 1963 work. Visual and Costume Design by Robert Rauschenberg2017YagOhad NaharinJoyce Theater, New York CityRevival of 1993 work2023Unstill LifeBenjamin MillepiedNuits de Fourvière, LyonPerformed and conceived by Millepied and Alexandre Tharaud2023The Missing MountainBobbi Jene Smith and Or SchraiberL.A. Dance Project Performance Space2023LineageJamar RobertsL.A. Dance Project Performance Space2022Festival in MotionBenjamin Millepied, Madeline Hollander, Janie Taylor, Saburo Teshigawara, Bobbi Jene Smith, Salia Sanou, Jill Johnson, Dimitri Chamblas, Mythili Prakash, Bouchra Ouizguen, MAZELFRETEN, Rauf Yasit and Brigel GjokaVarious, Doha, QatarL.A. Dance Project took a key role, performing multiple new works in the first Festival in Motion, which took place in Qatar as a part of the cultural programming accompanying the 2022 Fifa World Cup. The Festival was curated by Benjamin Millepied and Nico Muhly, presented by Qatar Museums, and commissioned by Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.2024Me.You.We.TheyBenjamin Millepied Philharmonie de ParisMusic by Nico Muhly2024TriadeBenjamin Millepied Philharmonie de ParisMusic by Nico Muhly2024Sleepwalker's EncyclopaediaJanie Taylor L.A. Dance Project Performance SpaceSet Design by Benjamin Styer2025Polovtsian DancesJobel MedinaPhilharmonie de ParisMusic by Alexander Borodin2025The Rite of SpringIdio Chichava (performed with dancers from the Mozambican company Converge+)Philharmonie de ParisMusic by Igor Stravinsky2025RituelBenjamin Millepied Philharmonie de ParisMusic by Pierre Boulez

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