Mr. Benjamin Millepied is a man of his moral integrity as it's been announced that he will step down as director of dance at the 335-year-old Paris Opera Ballet due to reasons regarding diversity and, perhaps most astoundingly, the company's lack of excellence.
A French native, it was reported last Thursday that Mr. Millepied, who hit global headlines when he met his wife, actor Natalie Portman, on the set of her Oscar-winning role in Black Swan, would be resigning from the post after just a year in the position.
Succeeding him will be former Paris Opera étoile Aurélie Dupont, who retired last year, but will return to the job when Mr. Millepied leaves in July.
But, in an interview with Le Figaro, and also in the documentary Relève, Benjamin Millepied spoke out about his disdain for the company's internal political system and hierarchical system. Also, the choreographer feels the company lacks significant and noticeable diversity.
Despite being heralded by French culture minister, Fleur Pellerin, who thanked Mr. Millepied's "commitment to diversity," Millepied was not satisfied with the company's performance of the classics.
"I'm waiting to see real excellence. It's not the best classical troupe, but it might be the best contemporary company in the world," he said in the documentary.
However, despite the searing remarks about his struggles felt internally within the institution, also is departing to focus on his own work. In hopes of regaining his own freedom and creativity, he feels honored to have served with the company but feels the job is not something he is particularly in need of,
His next move upon returning with his wife to L.A. and the L.A. Dance Project is to build the collective into a larger company that would include ballet in its repertoire.
