Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo Photographic Exhibition Offers Rare Look Behind the Scenes

NEW YORK, Jan. 11,2016 /PRNewswire/ This winter, New Yorkers won't need a fairy godmother to taste the good life. Monaco Takes New York (February 15-21, 2016), a week-long celebration of the Principality, presented by the Consulate General of Monaco and Monaco Government Tourist Office, will be showcasing some of the best Monaco has to offer. While Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo will delight dance lovers with Cinderella at New York City Center, a companion exhibition of behind-the-scenes photographs at the New York headquarters of world-renowned auctioneers, Christie's, will take visitors on an intimate backstage tour.

On exhibition for the first time in the United States, twenty photographs by Monaco-born Alice Blangero take us Inside Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo as she captures the innermost moments of the company's work. While some of the photos focus on dancers waiting in the wings or backstage during a performance, most of them show the dancers during everyday rehearsals.

"That first phase of creation and rehearsal offers me proximity and an insight to the dancers and the choreographer that the stage doesn't allow," explained Blangero.

These limited edition prints, signed by the artist, are available for purchase*. A price list will be available at Christie's front desk or via email at info@monaco-consulate.com. All proceeds will benefit Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo. Please direct all inquiries to that same email. (*sale transactions handled through the Consulate General of Monaco, not through Christie's).

Born in Monaco in 1979, Alice Blangero first became interested in the art of portraiture photography before moving to Paris between 2005 and 2010 to immerse herself in the world of musicians, actors and artists. In 2010, she had her first collaboration with Jean-Christophe Maillot for the centenary celebrations of the Russian Ballet. It was through this project that she discovered ballet as an artistic medium whose goals of portraying emotion and artistic sensitivity aligned with her own desires for her work.

Inside Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo is on view from Wednesday through Sunday, February 17-21 at Christie's Rockefeller Center (Lobby Gallery), 20 Rockefeller Plaza (at West 49th Street). Free and open to the public, Wed-Sat: 10:00am-5:00pm / Sun: 1:00pm-5:00pm.

'Inside Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo' is part of the 'Monaco Takes New York' series of events (February 15-21) presented by the Consulate General of Monaco and Monaco Government Tourist Office in New York, with the support of the Embassy of Monaco to the United States. Highlights of the week include four performances of Cinderella by Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo at New York City Center (Feb. 18-20), with an opening night VIP reception hosted by Cartier, and Flavors of Monaco, a farm-to-table Monegasque culinary week with guest Chef Paolo Sari at Circo and Le Cirque restaurants (Feb. 15-20).

Interviews with Alice Blangero, Jean-Christophe Maillot and Chef Sari are available by prior request, as are accompanying images.

About Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo

This distinguished company of 50 dancers consistently delights audiences with breathtaking performances on the world's greatest stages, thus highlighting the Principality's cultural and artistic virtues. Les Ballets became the official company of the Principality of Monaco in 1985, founded by Her Royal Highness The Princess of Hanover in accordance with the wishes of her mother, Princess Grace of Monaco. Since 1993, under the direction of Jean-Christophe Maillot, the company has continued to delight international audiences with award-winning, awe-inspiring performances. www.balletsdemontecarlo.com

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160111/320877

SOURCE Consulate General of Monaco