Benjamin Millepied News

Jacob's Pillow announces today that Executive and Artistic Director Ella Baff will soon present the fifth annual Jacob's Pillow Dance Award to Crystal Pite, an internationally renowned Canadian choreographer and Artistic Director of contemporary dance company Kidd Pivot Frankfurt RM.

Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week, or you're just in the mood for a recap of everything theatre, BroadwayWorld's new feature, 'This Week in Pictures' is here to satisfy your end of the week fix. Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to the West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more!

Jacob's Pillow Dance, recent recipient of a prestigious National Medal of Arts, announces its full 2011 Festival calendar, including more than 120 ticketed performances and 200 free events, performances, talks, exhibits, and tours.

Yesterday, May 15, the 2011 Fred and Adele Astaire Awards were held at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at NYU. The Fred & Adele Astaire Awards afe the only awards to recognize excellence in dance & choreography on Broadway and in film. On hand to celebrate were some of Broadway and film's greatest talents including Daniel Radcliffe, Benjamin Millepied, Sutton Foster, Christie Brinkley, Bebe Neuwirth, Lee Roy Reams, Ava Astaire, Norbert Leo Butz, Aaron Tveit, Len Cariou, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Bill Irwin, Maurice Hines, Christine Andreas, Karen Ziemba, Nick Adams, Kathleen Marshall, Desmond Richardson, Young Dancers from the National Dance Institute, Douglas Watt Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Jacques d'Amboise and more.

New York City Ballet Executive Director Katherine Brown announced today that NYCB Soloist Ellen Bar has been appointed the Company's new Director of Media Projects.

Patricia Watt, Executive Producer of the 2011 Fred & Adele Astaire Awards, has announced the first group of Presenters for the 29th Annual Fred & Adele Astaire Awards, In addition to Len Cariou and Brian Stokes Mitchell who will co-present the Douglas Watt Lifetime Achievement Award to legendary, dancer, choreographer, teacher and star of stage, film and television Jacques D'Amboise, additional presenters include Bill Irwin, Maurice Hines, Christine Andreas, Charlotte D'amboise, Christopher D'amboise and Karen Ziemba.

Chief Conductor Charles Dutoit and The Philadelphia Orchestra join together with arts and cultural organizations throughout the city for the inaugural Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts (PIFA). The festival will end on May 1, 2011. Audiences will revel in an array of one-time, only-in-Philadelphia productions by many of the region's top talents. PIFA will feature music, dance, fashion, fine arts, poetry, cuisine, and more-all generously flavored with the essence of Paris, circa 1910-20.

at a special reception hosted by Carolyn Kendall Buchter, Ronald Buchter and Patricia Watt, Producer of the Astaire Awards at Theater Row's Firebird Russian Restaurant,. The 'Astaires' are the only awards to honor excellence in dance and choreography on Broadway and in film.

The evening's performance, produced by Erin Fogarty and New York City Ballet principal dancer Daniel Ulbricht, will include three World Premiere pieces and will be performed by Daniel Ulbricht, Robert Fairchild, Amar Ramasar, Tyler Angle, Craig Hall, Wendy Whelan, Maria Kowroski, and Sterling Hyltin, as well as Matthew Rushing, Attila Csiki, Keigwin + Company, Alex Wong, and Martin Harvey to choreography by George Balanchine, Christopher Wheeldon, Benjamin Millepied, Larry Keigwin, Lar Lubovitch, Earl Mosley, Alex Wong and Robert Fairchild, and Daniel Ulbricht.

Chief Conductor Charles Dutoit and The Philadelphia Orchestra join together with arts and cultural organizations throughout the city for the inaugural Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts (PIFA)

The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage at the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center today announced its fourth season, highlighting new twists in its performing arts series, fresh multimedia educational events, and the creation of exciting new artistic partnerships.

Recently honored by President Barack Obama with the National Medal of Arts, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival 2011 will officially commence with a star-studded Season Opening Gala performance and celebration on June 18. A dance photography exhibit by Annie Leibovitz, created especially for the Pillow, will be on display in an exclusive preview.

The Harris Theater for Music and Dance is honored to present the first ever Chicago appearances of the Paris Opera Ballet, considered "one of the world's greatest companies" (Ballet News UK).

Natalie Portman has snagged the 'Best Actress' Academy Award for her performance in BLACK SWAN.

The evening's performance, produced by Erin Fogarty and New York City Ballet principal dancer Daniel Ulbricht, will include three World Premiere pieces and will be performed by Daniel Ulbricht, Robert Fairchild, Amar Ramasar, Tyler Angle, Craig Hall, Wendy Whelan, Maria Kowroski, and Sterling Hyltin, as well as Matthew Rushing, Attila Csiki, Keigwin + Company, Alex Wong, and Martin Harvey to choreography by George Balanchine, Christopher Wheeldon, Benjamin Millepied, Larry Keigwin, Lar Lubovitch, Earl Mosley, Alex Wong and Robert Fairchild, and Daniel Ulbricht.

The Metropolitan Opera and The Juilliard School jointly announced plans today to stage Bed?ich Smetana's The Bartered Bride, the first co-production between the two arts institutions.

New York City Ballet's 2011 winter repertory performances will begin on Tuesday, January 18, kicking off with an all-Balanchine program consisting of Walpurgisnacht Ballet, Duo Concertant, Valse-Fantaisie and The Four Temperaments, and will continue for six weeks, through Sunday, February 27, with performances of more than 27 different ballets from NYCB's unparalleled repertory. All performances will take place at the Company's home, the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

People.com reports that stage and screen darling Natalie Portman is engaged to boyfriend Benjamin Millepied. The couple, who met on the set of Black Swan, is also expecting their first child together.

Looking for a truly unique holiday gift this year? How about a once-in-a-lifetime experience? The upcoming Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts (PIFA), which holds the spotlight for three and a half weeks next spring (April 7 to May 1), has you covered, with a slate of unprecedented programming featuring virtually every artistic genre, targeted to the young and young-at-heart alike. Today, with an eye towards making this year's gift-giving season the easiest yet, festival organizers announce a full menu of special ticket packages sure to please everyone on your list. Additionally, PIFA Holiday Ticket Packages are discounted 10% when bought together vs. single ticket prices. Any or all of the Ten Holiday Ticket Packages, each including 3 diverse programs, can be purchased online at www.pifa.org, or at the Kimmel Center Box office, and the newly re-designed PIFA website provides easy access to detailed information on all PIFA partner organizations and events.

Looking for a truly unique holiday gift this year? How about a once-in-a-lifetime experience? The upcoming Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts (PIFA), which holds the spotlight for three and a half weeks next spring (April 7 to May 1), has you covered, with a slate of unprecedented programming featuring virtually every artistic genre, targeted to the young and young-at-heart alike.