Benjamin Millepied’s “City of Dance” Brings Street-Smart Choreography to Los Angeles
When Benjamin Millepied, the visionary choreographer and artistic director of L.A. Dance Project, sets his sights on a new endeavor, the dance world takes notice. This June, Millepied’s L.A. Dance Project, in collaboration with its Paris counterpart, will debut the U.S. Premiere of City of Dance, a groundbreaking series of free public performances across Los Angeles. The project, inspired by Philip Glass’ iconic score for the 1982 film Koyaanisqatsi, aims to dissolve the boundaries between dance, urban spaces, and environmental consciousness.
A Public Art Movement for the City
The 72-minute work, set to Glass’ pulsating orchestration, will be performed at iconic locations such as Tongva Park, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), and the Gloria Molina Grand Park. Millepied’s vision for City of Dance is to transform the city itself into a stage, inviting passersby to witness the interplay between human movement and the built environment. “The idea is to show this work to as many people as possible,” Millepied explains. “Dance should be accessible, not confined to the theater.”
The Paris iteration of the project, La Ville Dansée, held in 2025, demonstrated the power of public performance in densely populated urban areas, where spontaneous encounters with dance could occur in train stations or historical landmarks. In Los Angeles, however, the challenge lies in strategic planning. “In the toughest city for dance in the country, you have to be pragmatic,” Millepied says. “Take venues where you’re welcome and that feel adequate for the piece.”
Choreographers Reimagine Glass’ Score
Five choreographers—Dimitri Chamblas, Madeline Hollander, Millepied, Jamar Roberts, and Pam Tanowitz—each received a segment of Glass’ Koyaanisqatsi score to create movement that reflects the film’s themes of environmental imbalance and technological excess. Chamblas, who also participated in the Paris premiere, describes his segment as “a choreographed fight or game” emphasizing “the energy between the bodies and big parties.”
The collaboration demanded a unique approach: all five choreographers worked with the same 15 dancers, ensuring a cohesive yet diverse narrative. “The dancers move so generously, to exhaustion,” Chamblas notes. “It’s about the raw, unfiltered energy of the city.”
Environmental Themes in Motion
Koyaanisqatsi, the film that inspired the score, is a nonnarrative documentary that critiques humanity’s relationship with nature. Millepied sees City of Dance as a continuation of this dialogue. “California’s green initiatives and emphasis on environmental justice make Los Angeles a fitting location,” he says. The project also arrives in the wake of devastating wildfires, adding urgency to its message of ecological stewardship.
To deepen the conversation, the event includes public discussions with experts in environmental studies, technology, and urbanism. Free dance classes and open rehearsals further democratize access, aligning with Millepied’s goal of