 |
Angelin PreljocajFrench dancer and choreographer
Country:
 France |
Biography of Angelin Preljocaj
Early Life and Education
Angelin Preljocaj is a French dancer and choreographer who was born in an Albanian family of Montenegrin descent. He studied contemporary dance at the Schola Cantorum in Paris and under Merce Cunningham in New York.
Early Career
In 1980, Preljocaj joined the ballet troupe in Cannes and later worked at the National Choreographic Center in Angers. In 1982, he became a part of Dominique Bagouet's company in Montpellier. As a choreographer, Preljocaj made his debut with the ballet "Colonial Adventures" in 1984 in Montpellier.
Establishment of his Company
In 1985, Preljocaj founded his own company in Champigny-sur-Marne, which became the National Choreographic Center of Val-de-Marne in 1989. The center later relocated to Chatou (Val-d'Oise), and then to Aix-en-Provence, where it is currently based.
Dance Style and Collaborations
Preljocaj combines classical technique with the expressive plasticity of contemporary dance and elements of archaic and Far Eastern body cultures. He often revisits the works of 20th-century ballet choreographers such as Michel Fokine, Leonide Massine, and Vaslav Nijinsky, giving them a fresh interpretation.
Notable Works
Some of Preljocaj's noteworthy works include "Aventures Coloniales, Marché noir" (1984), "L'Arme Blanche" (1985), "À nos héros" (1986), "Le Petit Napperon Bouge, Hallali Romée" (1987), "Liqueurs de chair" (1988), and "Noces" (1989).
Awards and Recognition
Preljocaj has received several awards and accolades throughout his career. He was awarded the Grand National Prize of the Ministry of Culture in 1992 and the "Benois de la Danse" prize in 1995. He was also honored with the Victoire de la Musique for his production of Prokofiev's "Romeo and Juliet" in 1997. Preljocaj is a Knight of the Order of the Legion of Honor.
His performances at his center in Paris, Lyon, Avignon, Berlin, Munich, New York, and Moscow have been recognized with national and international awards.
