Benjamin Millepied

Benjamin Millepied (born June 10, 1977) is a French danseur and choreographer, perhaps most widely known for his work in the movie Black Swan which he starred in and choreographed. Millepied will be the new Director of Dance at the Paris Opera Ballet, starting in September 2014. --- Millepied was born in Bordeaux, France and raised in Dakar, Senegal. He is the youngest of three sons. His ballet training started at the age of eight with his mother, Catherine Millepied-Flory, a former ballet dancer. Between the ages of 13 and 16 he studied with Michel Rahn at the Conservatoire National in Lyon, France. In the summer of 1992 Millepied attended classes at the School of American Ballet (SAB) and returned to study full-time in 1993, with a scholarship from the French Ministry (Bourse Lavoisier or Lavoisier Scholarship). Early in his career Millepied was mentored by famed choreographer Jerome Robbins, who took a strong interest in him. At SAB's 1994 Spring Workshop he originated a principal role in Jerome Robbins' premiere of 2 and 3 Part Inventions and also received the Prix de Lausanne. Millepied joined New York City Ballet'scorps de ballet in 1995, was promoted to soloist in 1998 and became principal dancer in 2002. On 26 October 2011, it was announced that Millepied would retire from New York City's Ballet. --- Millepied met actress Natalie Portman on the set of Black Swan in early 2009 and reportedly left his live-in girlfriend at the time, American Ballet Theatre dancer, now soloist, Isabella Boylston to pursue a relationship with the actress. Portman gave birth to their child, a son named Aleph Portman-Millepied in June 2011, and they were married the 4 August 2012.