Benjamin Millepied will take over as director of the Paris Opera Ballet in October 2014, when the current director, Brigitte Lefevre, retires.
Miilepied, a former principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, is probably best known for his work as choreographer for, and actor in the film Black Swan. Subsequent to making the film, Millepied married its star, Natalie Portman.
French-born Millepied trained predominantly in the US and has danced with New York City Ballet, as a principal. He left the company in 2011 for Los Angeles, where he established his own company, LA Dance Project.
The news of the appointment has broken just as the Paris Opera Ballet is about to commence its Sydney season.