Marc Ribaud —

Born in Nice, Ribaud studied at the Lycée Albert in Monaco followed by the Académie de Danse Classique Princesse Grace in Monaco under the direction of Marika Besobrasova. In 1985 he was semi-finalist at the Prix de Lausanne, and in the following year joined Bonn Opera Ballet. In 1988 Youri Vamos took over as Artistic Director of the Bonn Opera Ballet, and Ribaud performed in many of Vamos’ choreographies including The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Paganini, Spartakus, Theseus and Ariadne, Swan Lake and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He also began choreographing, creating Love Songs and Impressions. In 1991 Vamos moved to Basel Ballet and in 1996 to Deutsche Oper am Rhein, Ribaud following him on both occasions. 

 

In July 1997, Ribaud started a nine year term as Artistic Director of the Ballet de l’Opéra de Nice, creating new ballets such as J.S. Bach, Flux et reflux, La Fille mal gardée, Zig-Zag, Romeo and Juliet, Bolero, Cinderella, Circus Ballet, Coppélia, Symphonie Classique, Passions and Carmen, and the choreographies for the operas Aida and La Gioconda. During his directorship the company performed across Italy and Spain, at the Monaco Dance Forum and in several French festivals. Also during this time he was regularly invited as a guest teacher to other European dance companies and to stage his work in Naples, Buenos Aires, Tel Aviv, Torino and Toulon. He served as a jury member at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Danse, as well as other international ballet competitions, and became President of the Jury for the International Classical Ballet Competition in Grasse (France).

 

Ribaud departed Nice Ballet in 2006. In 2007 and 2008 he was permanent Guest Ballet Master with the Royal Swedish Ballet, creating a new version of Don Quixote for the Izmer National Ballet (Turkey), and reviving Shpiel es for the Croatian National Ballet and the choreography for La Gioconda. In 2008 he joined the Royal Swedish Ballet as Artistic Director, presenting major classical, neo-classical and contemporary works by major choreographers including his own. While with the Royal Swedish Ballet, the company successfully toured internationally and Ribaud continued to work as a choregrapher with other companies.

 

Since 2011, Ribaud has worked as a freelance choreographer and guest teacher. He created choreography for the celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Ecole Supérieure de Danse de Marseille and a new version of Sylvia for the National Ballet of the Izmir State Opera. He continues to guest teach at ballet companies across the world.