Celebrated dancer and choreographer Benjamin Millepied is making a mainstage debut in Australia with his Romeo and Juliet Suite at the Sydney Opera House.
A former principal dancer with New York City Ballet and dance director at Paris opera, the founder of L.A. Dance Project has brought his genre-defying vision to the Shakespearean tale and its score by Prokofiev.
The production sees the L.A. Dance Project ensemble venture backstage and even outdoors as they are followed by cameras, with their real-time movements broadcast back to the audience.
The pas-de-deux roles of Romeo and Juliet will be danced by three couples across six performances, with one male-male pairing, another female-female, and a third female-male.
Originally from France, Millepied has previously spent an extended period in Sydney while filming his dance-led version of Carmen.
"This moment holds profound significance, not only because the Sydney Opera House is an emblem of global culture, but also because Australia and its people hold a unique space in my heart. Sydney, I eagerly anticipate our reunion!" he said in a statement.
Romeo and Juliet Suite plays from Wednesday till Sunday at the Joan Sutherland Theatre.
