Jean-Christophe Maillot

Jean-Christophe Maillot (born 1960) is a French dancer and choreographer born in Tours.

Early life & education

He studied at the dance conservatory in Tours before enrolling at the upper school of dance in Cannes, where Rosella Hightower was his primary teacher. [Kaye, Elizabeth: "Provocative Ballet by Way of Tough Love," The New York Times, 6 October 1996.]

Career

Maillot was invited by John Neumeier to join the Hamburg Ballet in 1978, where he became a soloist and stayed until 1983, when an accident ended his career as a dancer. [Benois de la danse 2007: Jean-Christophe Maillot]

In 1983, he became the choreographer and director of the "Ballet du Grand Théâtre" in Tours. Since 1993, and on the appointment of "Her Royal Highness" Caroline, Princess of Hanover, he has been the artistic director of Les Ballets de Monte Carlo.

Distinctions & awards

* 1977: Prix de Lausanne
* 1992: Knighthood of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
* 1999: Officer of the Order of Cultural Merit of Monaco
* 2001: Nijinski Award for Best Choreography for the production of "La Belle"
* 2002: Knighthood of the Légion d'honneur
* 2007: Prix Benois de la Danse Choreographer of the Year for "Faust"

Personal life

He is married and has three children, born between 1986-1992. His family is understood to be on intimate terms with the family of The Princess of Hanover. In particular, his eldest child and daughter Juliette, an actress and business student in Paris, is a well-known childhood friend of Charlotte Casiraghi.

Footnotes