MALANDAIN BALLET BIARRITZ

Biography

Author of more than eighty choreographic works, Thierry Malandain continues to build a coherent repertory deeply rooted in the tradition of ballet, where priority is given to the dancing body — its power, virtuosity, humanity, and sensuality.
His search for beauty and refinement has led to a timeless and sober style, capable of being both serious and irreverent, drawing richness from dance history while constantly renewing the language of academic ballet.
The dancers of his company come from a classical background which, through their work with Malandain, is transformed into something unmistakably contemporary.

“My culture is that of classical ballet, and I remain attached to it without any hesitation. Even while recognizing that its artistic and social codes belong to another era, I believe that this material inherited from four centuries of history gives dancers invaluable resources and substance. So I enjoy becoming classical for some, contemporary for others, simply searching for the dance I love — a dance that leaves not only the trace of pleasure, but reconnects with the essence of the sacred as a response to the difficulties of being.”
— Thierry Malandain

The Malandain Ballet Biarritz is based at the former Gare du Midi in Biarritz and is composed of 22 permanent dancers, all classically trained yet shaped into modern performers through Malandain’s choreographic approach.
Today, the company ranks among the European dance ensembles with the largest audiences, attracting more than 100,000 spectators each season through over 100 performances annually, one-third of which take place internationally.
For several international tours, the company receives support from the Institut Français.
Beyond its creative mission, the Centre is deeply engaged in audience development and cultural outreach. Through the Accueil Studio initiative, open to other choreographers’ work, it hosts companies in residence with more than 450 activities each season.
Its geographic position has also encouraged the development of Ballet T, a cross-border project created in collaboration with French institutions and Basque cultural authorities.
The aim is to promote choreographic art through co-productions, public engagement initiatives, and cultural exchanges across the Basque region and surrounding communities.