A major figure of contemporary dance, choreographer Angelin Preljocaj offers a virtuoso and elegant form of dance, imbued with the history of classical ballets, while remaining resolutely modern. His numerous creations in various forms (from duos to large ensemble works) are regularly presented in France and abroad. Several major international companies have also reproduced his choreographies or commissioned creations, such as the Ballet de l’Opéra National de Paris, or the New York City Ballet.

Born in France in 1957, to Albanian parents, Angelin Preljocaj trained in classical dance before turning to contemporary dance, which he learned from the best: Karin Waehner, at the Schola Cantorum, and Merce Cunningham, in New York. From 1984 to 1984, he was a dancer in the Quentin Rouillier company in Caen, then at the Centre Choréographique National d’Angers, and finally, as part of the Dominique Bagouet company in Montpellier. In 1984, he launched his career as a choreographer with Michel Kelemenis and the creation of Aventures Coloniales then he continued alone, the same year, with Marché Noir (French Ministry of Culture Prize). In 1985, he founded the Preljocaj company, which became the Preljocaj Ballet, when, in 1996, he assumed the role of director of the Centre Chorégraphique National d’Aix-en-Provence. Since then, he has presented a great deal of shows, including Larmes Blanches (1985), Annonciation (1995), MC 14/22 (Ceci est mon corps) (2000), Suivront mille ans de calme set to music by Laurent Garnier (2010) or, Ce que j’appelle oubli (Biennale de la Danse de Lyon, 2012).

 

http://www.preljocaj.org