There is a distinct rigor in the arbitrary. When a choreographer is handed a score not intended for the stage and told simply to "compose," the resulting work often reveals more about the essence of dance than any sprawling narrative ballet. This evening, April 16, 2026, Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, in co-production with the Printemps des Arts de Monte-Carlo, presents Miniatures - a series of six choreographic puzzles that demand both structural precision and imaginative leaps.
The concept is a revival of a creative "game" first established in 2004 by Jean-Christophe Maillot. The premise remains steadfast: take contemporary musical works, each representing a disparate universe, and impose them upon a choreographer. There are no external narratives provided; there is only the music and the mandate to move. These musics, reflections of six distinct imaginaries, were not originally written for dance. It is the rule of the game that these pieces are offered to the choreographer without any constraint other than to compose with them.
A Lineage of Collaborators
While the 2004 iteration featured works by Maillot, this 2026 production broadens the creative lens. Maillot has invited four “friends of the company” - former dancers of Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo who have transitioned to the other side of the curtain - to contribute their own visions. This collaborative spirit transforms the evening into a mosaic of perspectives, bridging the company’s history with its current evolution.
The performances are supported by the Ensemble Orchestral Contemporain, under the direction of Bruno Mantovani. The program features a sophisticated interplay between works from the original 2004 cycle and new creations for 2025. Jean-Christophe Maillot choreographs Miniature 1 to Ramon Lazkano’s Lur-Itzalak and Miniature 4 to Bruno Mantovani’s L’ivresse.
The new generation of choreographers includes Julien Guérin, working with Martin Matalon’s Caravansérail 2, and Francesco Nappa, who choreographs to Violeta Cruz’s Huit carrés rouges. Jeroen Verbruggen presents a work set to Aurélien Dumont’s Steps for Beasts that Never Were, while Mimoza Koike utilizes a new commission by Misato Mochizuki.
The Puzzle of Performance
At its core, Miniatures is an exercise in constraint. By utilizing music that was never intended for dance, the choreographers are forced to find rhythm in the unexpected and structure in the avant-garde. The result is a series of six miniature ballets that, when viewed in succession, assemble like pieces of a puzzle into a singular choreographic tableau, revealing different lives and different destinies.
As a Contributor to the cultural landscape of Monaco, Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo continues to prioritize the dialogue between contemporary music and physical expression. Held at the Place du Casino, this production serves as a testament to the enduring vitality of the "miniature" form - proving that even within the strictest rules, there is room for infinite discovery.
Photo credit: Les Ballets de Monte Carlo