Fabrice Calmels

Born and raised in France, Fabrice Calmels began ballet training at age 3, following the steps of his younger sister. In 1991, Fabrice entered the prestigious, 300-year-old Paris Opera School, under the direction of Claude Bessy.Through his training he worked with world-renowned dance masters such as Serge Golovine, Gilbert Mayer, Max Bozzoni, John Neumier, Jirí Kylián, Violette Verdy, and also performed at the beautiful Opera Palais Garnier theatre.

In 1998, at age 17, Fabrice moved to New York. He furthered his training by joining The Rock School, and danced with the Pennsylvania Ballet. Fabrice grew to perfect and expand his technique in America. At Boston Ballet, under the direction of Anna-Marie Holmes, he learned the Russian technique with ballet masters Tatiana Terekhova and Sergei Berezhnoi, and also the Balanchine style at The School of American Ballet.

After September 11, 2001, not able to acquire his visa to re-enter the United States, Fabrice returned home to France and joined Paris’s most famous cabaret, LIDO de Paris. There he was fortunate to hone his pas de deux skills by performing the show’s acrobatic pas de deux.

In 2002 , Fabrice finally settled in Chicago with the Joffrey Ballet, under the direction of company co-founder Gerald Arpino, again being exposed to another style of dance. In 2004 and age 23, Fabrice became a lead dancer at the Joffrey Ballet, notably through his principal role as Apollo. He was also coached by the famous Sir Anthony Dowell for the title role of Oberon in Ashton’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” In the fall 2009, he performed the tittle role in the Joffrey Ballet's premiere of Lar Lubovitch's "Othello"

Fabrice has danced several times for television, featured on Chicago’s WGN TV. He also dances with ABT principal Veronica Part and PNB principal Carla Korbes in guest performances. In 2008, he joined the circle of "The Stars of the 21st Century", becoming a internationally recognized artist. He’s also expanded into acting, performing the role of Nijinsky in the new theatre piece "MISIA" by writer Barry Singer, performed at Chicago’s Ravinia Festival. Last spring, Fabrice collaborated with world-famous musician Jean-Felix Lalanne, and his choreography was performed at his “Autour de la Guitare” in Paris. Fabrice was also a 2008 Top 20 (Chicago Tribune), 2009 Dancer to Watch (Chicago Tribune), 2009 Top 10 Entertainers by Chicago Mens Book, 2009 best French Artist in the State (by French Union in America).

Currently, Fabrice is still dancing with The Joffrey. He’s also focusing on choreography, modeling, writing a dance blog for the Chicago Tribune and maintaining "ILYS”, his new business.