Roland Petit (1924–2011). French dancer, choreographer and director

Roland Petit was born in Villemomble, France, in 1924. He was trained at the Paris Opéra Ballet School and graduated into the Paris Opéra Ballet in 1940. Although he was promoted in 1943, he resigned in 1944 to forge a new path. He choreographed new and innovative works, which were seen and appreciated as a new approach for the art form. With support from various directions, he was able to set up Les Ballet des Champs Élysées. From there he choreographed worldwide and made a reputation that led to endless opportunities to choreograph and direct, to make films and become involved in any number of theatrical enterprises, including opera and musicals. His collaborators over the years involved the latest and greatest from all avenues of art, music, design and fashion. He worked tirelessly all over the world in both small and large institutions as well as spending 26 years at the head of Ballet National de Marseille, a post he relinquished in 1998. Between then and his death in 2011, he staged many of his works all over the world. He was married to the French ballerina and international star, Zizi Jeanmaire.