Under the title Danses Concertantes, Benjamin Millepied has presented a variety of programs since 2002. The December Joyce program features twelve American Ballet Theatre (ABT) dancers in a repertoire that includes two works, both choreographed by Mr. Millepied and both accompanied by live music; one is a world premiere.

28 Variations on a Theme by Paganini (music by Johannes Brahms) will be accompanied by pianist Natasha Paremski, and the world premiere of Without (music by Fr_d_ric Chopin) features the pianist Pedja Muzijevic.

The dance troupe includes Gemma Bond, Isabella Boylston, Celine Cassone, Thomas Forster, Nicole Graniero, Alexandre Hammoudi, Blaine Hoven, Sarah Lane, Luis Ribagorda, Maria Riccetto, Eric Tamm, Cory Stearns and Melissa Thomas.

Amanda McKerrow and John Gardner, former dancers from ABT and noted teachers and coaches, will be the ballet staff for Danses Concertantes. Brad Fields, Lighting Director for ABT, will light all works.

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Benjamin Millepied is a principal dancer at New York City Ballet. He was born in Bordeaux, France, and began his training at the age of eight with his mother, a former dancer. Mr. Millepied entered the Conservatoire National in Lyon, France, at age 13, where he studied until he was 16 years old. He took summer classes at the School of American Ballet (SAB), the official school of New York City Ballet, in the summer of 1992 and returned with a scholarship from the French Ministry (Bourse Lavoisier) to study full-time in the fall of 1993. Mr. Millepied originated a principal role in Jerome Robbins' world premiere of 2 & 3 Part Inventions set to music by Bach at SAB's 1994 Spring Workshop. He was invited to become a member of New York City Ballet's corps de ballet in 1995, was promoted to the rank of soloist in 1998 and to principal dancer in the spring of 2002.

Mr. Millepied has been choreographing since 2001. His most recent work, 3 Movements to a score by Steve Reich, is a Joyce Theater 25th Anniversary Commission and will have its world premiere with Pacific Northwest Ballet in November 2008. The Paris Opera Ballet premiered Triade in September 2008 to a commissioned score by Nico Muhly as part of the Company's homage to Jerome Robbins. The work was filmed for an early 2009 television broadcast.

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Ticket Prices: $59; $35; $19
Joyce Members- $44; $26

The Joyce Theater is located in Manhattan at 175 Eighth Avenue (between 18th and 19th Streets).

For tickets and further information, visit The Joyce Theater or www.benjaminmillepied.com.