Benjamin Millepied is a celebrated French dancer and choreographer who has made significant contributions to the world of ballet, particularly in the United States. He joined the New York City Ballet (NYCB) in 1995, quickly rising through the ranks to become a soloist in 1998 and a principal dancer by 2002. During his time at NYCB, which he left in 2011, Millepied not only performed but also showcased his talent as a choreographer, creating original works for the company and other prestigious ballet institutions.
In 2011, he founded the LA Dance Project, where he served as its artistic leader until 2014. Following that, he took on the role of Director of Dance at the Paris Opera Ballet in October 2014, a position he held until his resignation in 2016. Millepied gained widespread recognition for his choreography in the critically acclaimed film *Black Swan* (2010), in which he also performed.
His personal life garnered attention when he met actress Natalie Portman on the set of *Black Swan* in early 2009. Their relationship began after he ended a previous relationship with Isabella Boylston, a principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre. Millepied and Portman married in a Jewish ceremony in Big Sur, California, on August 4, 2012. The couple has two children, Aleph (born 2011) and Amalia (born 2017), and they relocated from Paris to Los Angeles in 2016. Millepied is reportedly in the process of converting to Judaism, embracing his wife’s faith.
