Emmanuelle Grizot

Emmanuelle studied at the International Center of Dance directed by Rosella Hightower in Cannes, France and also at the Academie Princesse Grace directed by Marika Besobrasova in Monaco. She began her professional career at the age of 18 and her first engagement was with the Basler Ballett, directed by Heinz Spoerli in Basel, Switzerland; where she stayed for five seasons.

After two seasons at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein with Paolo Bortoluzzi in Düsseldorf, Germany, Emmanuelle moved to Bordeaux, France. She spent most of her career in Bordeaux, under the direction of Paolo Bortoluzzi, Eric Vu-An and Charles Jude. She has performed many roles in the Classical Ballet repertoire, choregraphed by Charles Jude: Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Swan Lake, Don Quixote, Romeo and Juliet and Coppelia; which was performed in 2001 at Châtelet in Paris.

In 2002 Emmanuelle Grizot was appointed Danseuse Etoile.

Emmanuelle’s repertoire included the principal roles of several Classical Ballet pieces. Balanchine’s pieces (Apollo, Sonatine, The Prodigal Son, Serenade, Who care’s, 4 temperaments), the Ballets Russes repertory (Petrouchka, Les Sylphides, Le Spectre de la Rose, le Tricorne) and Suite en Blanc by Lifar, The Moor’s Pavane by José Limon.

During her career she also worked with well-known choreographers such as: Hans van Manen, Heinz Spoerli, Istvan Herczog, Nils Christe, Carlotta Ikeda, Uwe Scholz, Mauricio Wainrot and Thierry Malandain. Emmanuelle danced with many partners ove the years, including: Jean-Guillaume Bart, Joan Boada, Paolo Bortoluzzi, Giuseppe Della Monica, Andreï Fedotov, Georghe Iancu, Farouk Rouzimatov, Charles Jude, José Martinez and Eric Vu-An. Main partnerships were with Eric Frédéric, Roman Mikhalev, Giuseppe Picone and Igor Yebra.

In 2008, Emmanuelle created her first choreography Comédie italienne for the summer festival in Formentera, Spain. Moving forward, The National Opera of Bordeaux offered her the opportunity to create her very own version of Hänsel et Gretel and Barbe-Bleue; two pieces for young people, along with many duets: Triphase, Interférence, Volte-Face, Amour Délice et Orgue,

Emmanuelle created her company LEGATO Cie. in 2015 and added Rhapsody in Blue, a piece for 8 dancers including different styles in her choreographic repertoire. She also continued to give regular Master Classes and guest teach at Ballet Nice Méditerranée, Hannover Ballett, National Opera of Bordeaux, Preljocaj Ballet and San Carlo di Napoli.

Emmanuelle Grizot co-founded The Dance Place in September 2019 and taught Classical Ballet to children and adults. She returned to France at the end of 2022, however she remains closely connected with The Dance Place and conducts masterclasses and workshops when she comes to Singapore.