Two years after its inaugural performance, L.A. Dance Project is already a must-see company. In part that's because its founder and artistic director is the legendary French-born ballet dancer and choreographer Benjamin Millepied — but also because of its trendy innovations in contemporary dance and modern art.
Millepied, 37, double-timing his duties in Los Angeles with his recent appointment as director of dance at the Paris Opera Ballet, became a global celebrity after working on Darren Aronofsky's hit 2010 movie, "Black Swan" — and his subsequent marriage to its leading lady, Natalie Portman.
A former New York City Ballet principal dancer, Millepied started LADP as an arts collaborative in September 2012, and his hip take on Tinsel Town's culture scene — incorporating contemporary music and art into dance productions — attracts fans and creators across the spectrum.