Ballet Preljocaj is a contemporary ballet company based in Aix-en-Provence, France with an internationally acclaimed reputation for presenting well known narratives through dramatic and virtuosic choreography and dance, highly sophisticated music and spectacular design.
Founded by Angelin Preljocaj in December 1984, shortly joined by Nicole Saïd in January 1985, the Preljocaj company became the National Choreographic Centre of Champigny-sur-Marne and Val-de-Marne in 1989. In 1996, the ballet was welcomed at the Cité du Livre in Aix-en-Provence and became the Ballet Preljocaj – National Choreographic Centre of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region, the Bouches-du-Rhône Department, the Pays d’Aix Community and the City of Aix-en-Provence.
Since founding his company, now composed of 30 dancers, Angelin Preljocaj has created 58 choreographic works including Romeo & Juliet, Snow White and Swan Lake. The Company performs about 120 dates per year on tour, in France and abroad, including the Lincoln Center, New York and the Music Centre, Los Angeles.
In 2016 they performed at QPAC as part of a sold-out season of the QPAC International Series, with a romantic and edgy retelling of Snow White, based on the Grimm Brothers’ original fairytale and featuring costumes designed by couturier Jean Paul Gaultier.
Artists
Angelin Preljocaj
Angelin Preljocaj was born in France, and began studying classical ballet before turning to contemporary dance, which he studied with Karin Waehner, Zena Rommett, Merce Cunningham, and later Viola Farber and Quentin Rouillier. He then joined Dominique Bagouet before founding his own company in December 1984.
Throughout his career, he has created a large number of choreographic works, ranging from solo to larger productions. He collaborates regularly with other artists Enki Bilal (Roméo et Juliette, 1990), Air (Near Life Experience, 2003) Fabrice Hyber (Les 4 saisons…, 2005), Jean Paul Gaultier (Snow White, 2008), Constance Guisset (Le funambule, 2009) and Azzedine Alaïa (The Nighs, 2013).
His creations have been restaged by numerous other repertory companies, from which he also receives requests to create new pieces. This has been the case with La Scala in Milan and the New York City Ballet, the Staatsoper in Berlin and the Paris Opera Ballet.
Angelin Preljocaj Portrait © Julien Bengel.