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| Ballet of Lyon | |
|---|---|
| Name | Ballet of Lyon |
| Founded | 1969 |
| Founder | Maurice Béjart? |
| Location | Lyon |
| Venue | Opéra Nouvel |
| Artistic director | Gilbert Mayer? |
Ballet of Lyon is a professional dance company based in Lyon with historical ties to regional performing arts institutions such as Opéra Nouvel, Théâtre des Célestins, Maison de la Danse, Centre National de la Danse, Comédie-Française and touring connections to festivals including Festival d'Avignon, La Biennale de Lyon, Festival d'Aix-en-Provence and Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The company has collaborated with choreographers associated with Paris Opera Ballet, New York City Ballet, Royal Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet and institutions like Palais Garnier, Lincoln Center, Sadler's Wells and Teatro alla Scala.
The ensemble traces roots through postwar French dance developments linked to figures such as Serge Lifar, Roland Petit, Maurice Béjart, Jean-Georges Noverre and connections to schools like École de Danse de l'Opéra de Paris and academies including Conservatoire de Paris. Early seasons featured programming influenced by choreographers from Martha Graham Dance Company, Merce Cunningham Dance Company, George Balanchine and companies emerging from the 20th-century modern dance milieu such as Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Twyla Tharp. Administrative interactions involved regional bodies like Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, cultural policy frameworks tied to Ministry of Culture (France) and collaborative agreements with municipal partners like City of Lyon and Métropole de Lyon. Touring expanded to venues including Opéra Bastille, Théâtre du Châtelet, Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, and international houses such as Teatro Colón, Bolshoi Theatre, Mariinsky Theatre and Kirov Ballet.
Repertoire spans neoclassical works by choreographers connected to George Balanchine, contemporary ballets by artists from William Forsythe, Wayne McGregor, Jirí Kylián, Angelin Preljocaj, Pina Bausch, and commissions from emerging creators affiliated with Cunningham, Paul Taylor, Crystal Pite and Ohad Naharin. The company has staged narrative pieces inspired by librettists and composers linked to productions at Opéra National de Paris and collaborations with conductors associated with Orchestre National de Lyon, Philharmonia Orchestra, Orchestre de Paris and composers from the Institut de France milieu. Artistic leadership has featured directors with careers at Paris Opera Ballet, Het Nationale Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet and residencies informed by artistic advisors from Royal Danish Ballet, Danish Dance Theatre and festivals like Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival and Les Rencontres Chorégraphiques Internationales.
The troupe comprises principal dancers trained at institutions such as École de Danse de l'Opéra de Paris, Paris Conservatoire, Royal Ballet School, Juilliard School, Vaganova Ballet Academy and School of American Ballet. Guest artists have included names associated with Anna Pavlova, Margot Fonteyn, Rudolf Nureyev, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Sylvie Guillem and contemporary stars performing with American Ballet Theatre, English National Ballet, Staatsballett Berlin and Het Nationale Ballet. Choreographers in residence have been recruited from networks tied to CNDC Angers, Centre Chorégraphique National de Créteil, Pôle Pik and institutions such as Académie Royale de Danse. Administrative and rehearsal staff have links to training programs at Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Lyon and management exchanges with Opéra National de Lyon leadership.
Primary stages include Opéra Nouvel, Maison de la Danse, Théâtre des Célestins and touring partners such as Théâtre de la Ville, La Scala, Palais Garnier, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Sadler's Wells Theatre and international festivals like Salzburg Festival and Milan International Dance Week. Residencies and co-productions have involved partnerships with institutions such as Centre National de la Danse, Rencontres Chorégraphiques Internationales de Seine-Saint-Denis, Fondation Royaumont and universities including Université Lyon 2 and conservatories like Conservatoire de Lyon.
Educational initiatives have operated through collaborations with schools and cultural organizations including Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Lyon, École de Danse de l'Opéra de Paris, Maison de la Danse outreach programs, municipal cultural services of City of Lyon and youth initiatives aligned with UNESCO cultural education frameworks. Community work has partnered with theatrical and social agencies like La Fabrique Opéra and festivals such as Festival d'Avignon to present workshops, masterclasses and apprenticeship schemes connected to apprenticeship models used by Paris Opera Ballet School and Royal Ballet School.
The company and its artists have been recognized in forums awarding prizes similar to Prix Benois de la Danse, Laurence Olivier Award, Caryle Award-style honors, regional distinctions from Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and national medals such as Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and accolades presented at events like Festival d'Avignon and Spoleto Festival USA. Collaborations have been cited in critical surveys by institutions like Centre National du Cinéma et de l'Image Animée and reviews in outlets affiliated with Le Monde, Le Figaro, The Guardian and The New York Times.