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And Darkly Bright Are Bright in Dark Directed

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501181556.336245997.jpg ![501181556.336245997.jpg](https://assets-global.website-files.com/62ee0bbe0c783a903ecc0ddb/6472a830670f94133f40e233_501181556.336245997.jpeg) 501182952.336247018.jpg ![501182952.336247018.jpg](https://assets-global.website-files.com/62ee0bbe0c783a903ecc0ddb/6472a830670f94133f40e1f9_501182952.336247018.jpeg) 501183010.336247226.jpg ![501183010.336247226.jpg](https://assets-global.website-files.com/62ee0bbe0c783a903ecc0ddb/6472a830670f94133f40e216_501183010.336247226.jpeg) 501183026.336247232.jpg ![501183026.336247232.jpg](https://assets-global.website-files.com/62ee0bbe0c783a903ecc0ddb/6472a830670f94133f40e1f5_501183026.336247232.jpeg) 501183034.336247230.jpg ![501183034.336247230.jpg](https://assets-global.website-files.com/62ee0bbe0c783a903ecc0ddb/6472a830670f94133f40e22f_501183034.336247230.jpeg) [](https://flaunt-mag.squarespace.com/config/pages/587fe9d4d2b857e5d49ca782#)[](https://flaunt-mag.squarespace.com/config/pages/587fe9d4d2b857e5d49ca782#) And Darkly Bright Are Bright in Dark Directed Speaking to Benjamin Millepied after his return to the city of Angels for the LA Dance Project Benefit “To me it’s not just a modern dance company per se,” Benjamin Millepied tells me, remarkably composed only minutes after performing in the LA Dance Project’s annual benefit performance at the Los Angeles Theatre Center. “My work is still, in this case, classical—sure, the dancers, are not ballet dancers—but the choreography is still of a classical background, if that makes sense… It’s choreography to music, it has a classical craft.” The benefit included _pas de deux_ from Jerome Robbins’ classic short ballet _Interplay,_ performed by Colburn Dance Academy students Anatalia Hardov and Jackson Bradshaw_._ Millepied calls the academy “essentially the school of the LA Dance Project,” and says he has seen the school produce a myriad of talented young dancers. Millepied himself choreographed the company’s performance _Hearts and Arrows,_ set to Philip Glass’ _String Quartet No. 3_. The chemistry of this nine-person performance is astounding—the dancers move in a way that explores the precariousness of the position between safety and peril in group dynamics. Former New York City Ballet principal Janie Taylor gave a magnificent performance with Millepied set to _Sonnet 43, Sonnet 20, and Zubulon_ by Rufus Wainwright. Millepied is correct: the classical forms and elements in these performances are clear, but I am left envious that my own rigid ballet training did not include the freedom and fluidity that the LA Dance Project so stunningly executes. Millepied—a former New York City Ballet principal dancer—launched the group in 2012. Shortly after, he took on the esteemed artistic director role at the Paris Opera Ballet, where he just completed his first full year while maintaining involvement with the LA Dance Project. A diverse range of choreography is what makes LA Dance Project unique in the dance world, and he says it is “entirely intentional” that his modern choreography be viewed alongside classic American choreography like that of Robbins. The classical/modern divide is not the only barrier the LA Dance Project is breaking down. While their studios are housed in the Los Angeles Theatre Center downtown, performances are often given in more unconventional, non-theatre locations, like the ACE Hotel and Union Station. Everything is a collaboration: Janie Taylor designed the costumes for the company performance, Millepied’s costume was designed by Berluti, and he collaborated with Rufus Wainright on the music for the special benefit performance. To Millepied, bringing together visual artists, musicians, designers, directors, and composers is the only way to ensure the performances come together as cohesively as possible. “That’s just how it is, always,” he says. “When you create a dance, you have to set it in the right environment, the clothes have to look right, so does the lighting. It’s everything.” I mention that it must be challenging to manage “everything” for two different performing groups, plus fatherhood, I add—Millepied has a son named Aleph with his wife, Natalie Portman, who he met while choreographing the Aronofsky film _Black Swan_. “I think it’s much more challenging than one would expect." He responds carefully, "It’s challenging, but it is a good thing.” And how is he holding up? He smiles, “I mean, I’m alive.”