Ballet Sensation! Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo Perform in Latvia for the First Time!
In its centenary season, one of the most prestigious ballet companies in Europe and the world comes to Riga for the very first time. On the stage of the Dailes Theatre, audiences will witness “Romeo and Juliet” — the legendary ballet by Jean-Christophe Maillot, now considered the company’s signature work and a benchmark of contemporary ballet drama.
Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo is a true jewel in the cultural crown of the House of Grimaldi. It is the youngest court ballet company in Europe — and undoubtedly one of the most renowned. It has its own distinctive language, its own principles, and a unique repertoire created from scratch by some of the most influential choreographers of our time — from Maurice Béjart, Jiří Kylián, and William Forsythe to Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and Marco Goecke. But the heart of the company is the work of Jean-Christophe Maillot, its artistic director since 1993.
Maillot began his career as a dancer with John Neumeier’s Hamburg Ballet, quickly rising to prominence as a leading soloist. After an injury ended his performing career, he turned to choreography — and rapidly became one of Europe’s most respected dance creators. Under his leadership, Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo gained international recognition as one of the most dynamic and respected companies in the world. Among his many accomplishments are the founding of the Monaco Dance Forum, the creation of the Princess Grace Academy of Ballet, and the staging of dozens of celebrated productions, including “The Sleeping Beauty”, “Cinderella”, “Nutcracker Circus”, “Lac”, “Faust”, “Wedding”, Altro Canto, and many others.
A central work in Maillot’s repertoire is Romeo and Juliet, set to the music of Sergei Prokofiev. Here, the score becomes a true dramaturgical force — monumental, richly polyphonic, charged with a sense of looming tragedy and cinematic shifts in mood. It does not merely accompany the action; it defines its rhythm, breath, and emotional intensity. Rather than illustrating the literary narrative, Maillot constructs a choreographic drama where the inner conflicts of the characters unfold through movement, and the scenes transition with film-like precision. The production is densely populated, layered, and filled with adrenaline-charged passion and refined, intricate physicality — a rare and powerful combination. According to leading critics, Maillot’s Romeo and Juliet is one of the finest Shakespearean ballets ever created. It was in this work that Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo first revealed themselves as a perfectly calibrated instrument of choreographic expression — a standard they have maintained for nearly thirty years.
The Guardian described the production as “a gripping ballet novella, structured like a film: every movement carries weight”, while Le Figaro called it “a hypnotic, emotionally charged and brutally honest retelling of the great tragedy.” According to the Los Angeles Times, “the Monte Carlo dancers are phenomenal — explosive, expressive, light, and lightning-fast. Every movement is articulated with clarity, ease, and precision.” And Bachtrack praised the company’s “exquisite, honed technique as a sign of a troupe in peak form.”
“I wanted to show that this company is not some royal toy,” said Maillot. “I wanted it to have its own identity. And I wanted Monaco — this small, special place — to experience the full force of dance.”
Today, Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo is not just a ballet company — it is a cultural phenomenon. It is a space of style, courage, and creative freedom. And “Romeo and Juliet” remains one of the defining dance productions of our time, performed with resounding success on the world’s greatest stages — from La Scala to Seoul.
On March 6 and 7, 2026, this extraordinary production will be presented to Latvian audiences for the very first time — in the company’s centenary year. It is a rare opportunity to experience a choreographic masterpiece that has become a modern classic of ballet theatre.
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