Thierry Malandain at the Academy of Fine Arts
Foundation for Dance - Thierry Malandain
Created in 2024, this foundation on the initiative of Thierry Malandain, first elected member of the choreography section of the Academy of Fine Arts, has given itself the mission of supporting the emergence of new choreographers and the dissemination of their works, of supporting professional dancers at two strategic moments in their career – namely training and retraining -, as well as encouraging research on choreographic art and its history.
The Foundation may notably grant prizes, scholarships or residencies to choreographers, dancers and researchers whose work focuses on choreography and dance, and establish partnerships with public institutions and private establishments dedicated to dance or performance. The Foundation will also be able to support mediation and awareness-raising actions through Dance among various audiences.
Discover the Foundation’s actions: presentation document
Installation at the Academy
Thierry Malandain was elected to chair number 1 of the choreography section of the Academy of Fine Arts, on April 24, 2019.
On February 6, 2022 Thierry Malandain was installed under the dome of the Institut de France, in the presence of personalities from dance, the political world, but also and above all the Malandain Ballet teams Biarritz.
After a speech by Laurent Petitgirard, composer and permanent secretary of the Academy of Fine Arts, it’s time for the speech by Thierry Malandain, between celebration of his love for dance and concern about his low regard in France. A true lesson in the history of dance, it found its place under the dome, where the “Gavotte de Vestris” was performed by Jon Olascuaga (Maritzuli Company) accompanied by Xabi Etcheverry (violin). To close the speech, Arthur Barat (Collectif Bilaka) accompanied by musician Sébastien Paulini (tambourine and txistu) presented the Aurresku, a dance of honor in the Basque Country.
Read Thierry Malandain’s speech here.
Following the speeches, Catherine Pgard, president of the CCN Malandain Ballet Biarritz, handed over her sword, or more precisely, her academic staff to Thierry Malandain.
Homage to those of the dancing masters, it is the Biarritz jewelry company, Origine Ateliers, which created this stick. It is made of Loquat wood, also used to make the makila, a walking stick doubled as a weapon from the Basque tradition. Decorated with a snail shell symbolizing the rebirth and return of Dance within the procession of the Arts, the silver pommel is engraved with the names of thirteen choreographers. These thirteen artists, known or forgotten, refer to the thirteen “academists” appointed by Louis -1865), Jules Perrot (1810-1892), Henri Justamant (1815-1890), Marius Petipa (1818-1910), Hyppolite Montplaisir (1821-1877), Mariquita (1841-1922), Laure Fonta (1845-1915), Louise Stichel (1856-1942), Serge Lifar (1905-1986), Janine Charrat (1924-2017) and Joseph Lazzini (1926-2012).
The sheath of the baton was made from scraps of ballet fabrics from the choreographer, by Karine Prins, costume manager at Malandain Ballet Biarritz.
The choreography section is made up of a total of four members: Carolyn Carlson (chair number IV), Blanca Li (chair number II), Thierry Malandain (chair number I) and Angelin Preljocaj (chair number III).
The Board of Directors
College of the Academy
Laurent Petitgirard, permanent secretary of the Academy of Fine Arts – President of the Foundation
Régis Campo, member of the Academy of Fine Arts – musical composition section
Astrid de la Forest, member of the Academy of Fine Arts – engraving and drawing section
Didier Deschamps, correspondent of the Academy of fine arts – choreography section
College of the donor
Jacques-Emmanuel Saulnier, general delegate of the TotalEnergies Foundation – Vice-President of the Foundation
Yves Kordian, delegate director of the CCN Malandain Ballet Biarritz
Thierry Malandain, choreographer & member of the Academy of Fine Arts – choreography section
Arnaud Mahouy was appointed administrator of the Foundation by the board of directors
Contact
Arnaud Mahouy
Foundation Administrator
arnaud.mahouy@academiedesbeauxarts.fr
+33 (0)6 70 35 90 66
correspondence
Academy of Fine Arts
23 quai de Conti
75006 Paris
