MATHIEU GANIO

Born in Marseille on March 16, 1984, he began dancing at age 7, debuting on stage at 2 and a half in Roland Petit's "Ma Pavlova." He trained at the National Superior School of Dance in Marseille and the Paris Opera Ballet School. Joining the Paris Opera Ballet at 17, he rose through the ranks, becoming Étoile at 20 without the customary step of premier danseur. He's acclaimed for his performances in classical repertoire like Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake, as well as contemporary works by choreographers such as George Balanchine and Kenneth MacMillan. He's received honors including the Benois de la Danse in 2005 and was named Officer of Arts and Letters in 2020. He's toured internationally and continues to inspire with his talent and dedication to ballet.