Jean-Yves Esquerre

Born in France, Jean-Yves Esquerre first studied dance with Monique Malo and received his artistic training at the international multidisciplinary school, Mudra, in Brussels. Between 1974 and 1986, Esquerre danced with three of the most prestigious international companies, Maurice Béjart’s Les Ballets du XXème Siècle, John Neumeier’s Hamburg Ballet, and Jiri Kylian’s Nederlands Dans Theater. During this time, he created and danced many roles for various choreographers including William Forsythe, Glen Tetley, Christopher Bruce, Lar Lubovitch, and Nils Christie. In 1986, he became ballet master of Le Ballet du Louvre, a Paris-based company created by Rudolf Nureyev. In 1987, he was invited to teach at Les Ballets de Monte Carlo and was subsequently offered the position of artistic director by H.S.H. Princess Caroline of Monaco. During his tenure, the company’s repertoire expanded significantly to include works by Balanchine, Tudor, Neumeier, Kylian, Forsythe, Scholz, Petit, Béjart, and masterpieces from the Ballets Russes tradition. Esquerre was instrumental in bringing in a new generation of young choreographers to create works for the fifty-member company. The company received international acclaim while touring extensively throughout the world. In 1992, Esquerre resigned his position in order to explore different avenues of interest. He traveled the world to study and teach meditation and mindfulness techniques in movement, and while in Boston, developed a program of therapeutic dance exercises designed for injury prevention and post-surgery rehabilitation. Throughout the years, he also worked as ballet master and teacher for the English National Ballet and School, Le Centre International de Danse de Cannes, San Francisco Ballet School, Boston Ballet and School, Steps on Broadway, Le Cirque du Soleil, Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal, and Alonzo King’s Lines Ballet School, to name a few. He also served as a juror/chairman in several international ballet competitions, including three years at the Prix de Lausanne. He was awarded France’s Prix Marquis de Cuevas for his contribution to the dance community. Between 2007 and 2010, Esquerre served San Francisco Ballet as company teacher, school faculty member, and trainee program supervisor. He developed a teacher training program, led improvisation and choreography workshops, and offered community outreach programs. Under his tutelage, trainees graduated to join major dance companies around the world. In 2008, he was appointed assistant to the artistic director for San Francisco Ballet’s 75th anniversary season.