Nicolas Le Riche

The Prix de Lausanne is a unique meeting platform dedicated to the development of young dancers. It allows students to get in touch with professionals in the sector, offering them life-changing choices of orientation. It is also an opportunity for everyone to discover the talents of tomorrow in the art of choreography. This meeting point is also a chance for professionals to exchange ideas.
More than ever, young dancers need the support of professionals. This year is marked by an unprecedented upheaval in our sector. Being able to discover young international talent, as well as to contribute to the development of dancers are excellent reasons to take part in the Prix de Lausanne this year. Without forgetting the team and the unique and supportive atmosphere of the Prix de Lausanne.

Nicolas Le Riche began dancing in Pontoise with Pierre Schwarz with whom he spent two years. He was then accepted at the Paris Opera Ballet School, where he studied for six years under the direction of Claude Bessy. He then joined the Paris Opera Ballet where he worked his way upward winning multiple competitions: Quadrille in 1988, Choryphée in 1989 (1^st prize), Sujet in 1990 (1^st prize), and Premier Danseur in 1991. He was named Etoile in 1993. As an opening performer, he has worked with the greatest classical Masters as well as the leading contemporary choreographers at the Paris Opera and the most celebrated opera houses in the world including the Royal Opera House, the Bolshoï, the Kirov, La Scala in Milan, the Royal Danish Ballet, the New York City Ballet, etc.

Nicolas Le Riche took office as the new director of the Royal Swedish Ballet, one of the world’s oldest ballet companies, in the fall of 2017. In the spring of 2025, during his final season as artistic director of the Royal Swedish Ballet, Nicolas Le Riche returns to dance on stage, in Mats Ek’s A Cup of Coffee, which will also be Nicolas Le Riche’s stage debut at the Royal Swedish Opera.

Nicolas Le Riche has received the following awards:

• Cercle Carpeaux Prize in 1991
• The AROP Prize in 1993
• The Benois de la Danse Prize in 1995
• The Saint Germain des Prés Prize in 1999
• The Nijinski Dance Prize in 2004
• The Outstanding Performance of the National Dance Award in London in 2013

He is a Commander of Arts and Letters, a Knight of the National Order of Merit and a Knight of the Legion of Honor. Nicolas Le Riche is also a UNICEF sponsor for the Darfur children’s vaccination initiative.