Lifetime Achievement Award 2018, Jean-Christophe Maillot

As part of the 46th edition, the Prix de Lausanne (PdL) wished to honour the work of the French choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot for his devotion to the dance world. Prize Winner in 1977, several times member or President of the PdL’s jury, he is Choreographer-Director of the Ballets de Monte-Carlo since 1993. He will receive the second Prix de Lausanne Lifetime Achievement Award.

He answered a few questions for us:

What is the most important message you would like to give to the young dancers for their future career? Do not be afraid.

What you wish you had knew when you were a young dancer and that you are aware of today? That we never work hard enough.

Looking back on your career, what is the precise reason that pushed you to become a choreographer? The particularity of this profession – being a choreographer – is that your work always depends on others. What pushed me to become a choreographer is the pleasure I get from sharing a unique human experience with other people.

What does the Prix de Lausanne represent in the world of dance today? The Prix de Lausanne is unique. This is the only ballet competition I agree to participate in as a jury member because, more importantly than the dancers performance, it is the attention paid to their future career which makes this competition so exceptional. It also became the quality barometer of education in the world. This competition continues to reflect the extraordinary artistic and human qualities of its founders Elvire and Philippe Braunschweig, and Rosella Hightower: three very important figures in my career.