Charlotte Ballet is saddened by the passing of former artistic director Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux, the creative force who along with his wife, Patricia McBride, led North Carolina’s oldest ballet company for more than 20 years.
Bonnefoux, a native of Bourg en Bresse, France, died on April 13 in Charlotte, NC of heart failure. He was 82.
Bonnefoux and McBride — who continues to teach Charlotte Ballet Academy students — arrived in Charlotte in 1996 to lead what was then the North Carolina Dance Theatre. It was rebranded as Charlotte Ballet in 2014 and Bonnefoux was the third artistic director, serving in that role until 2017, longer than any other artistic director.
The company was founded in 1970 in Winston-Salem by Robert Lindgren, making it the state’s oldest professional ballet company. Lindgren served as its first artistic director, followed by Salvatore Aiello, who moved the company to Charlotte.
Under the artistic direction of Bonnefoux and his wife, the company reinvented itself, growing in size, attracting world-class dancers and choreographers, expanding its dance academy and establishing a program to provide dance training at no cost. Its beloved holiday classic, “Nutcracker,” is a celebrated part of Bonnefoux’s choreographic legacy.
Under his artistic leadership, Charlotte Ballet grew as an innovative organization with his own creation of neo-classical ballets, acquiring masterworks from George Balanchine, Alvin Ailey, Paul Taylor, Nacho Duato, William Forsythe and Jiří Kylián, as well as Dwight Rhoden, Alonzo King and Mark Godden, while nurturing the talent of both the dancer and the choreographer.
Bonnefoux brought the tradition of storytelling from Paris Opera Ballet, where he was danseur étoile (star dancer), with his creations of classical ballets like “Cinderella,” “Sleeping Beauty” and “Nutcracker,” as well as signature works, including “Shindig” and many more. Bonnefoux premiered the Innovative Works series shortly after arriving in Charlotte, where new work was celebrated and nurtured under his leadership. The Company rose to national acclaim, with invitations to perform at prestigious venues, including American Dance Festival, the Kennedy Center and The Joyce Theater.
Bonnefoux also started the summer dance program at the Chautauqua Institution cultural center in 1983 and served as its director for almost 40 years, even during his leadership of Charlotte Ballet.
“Jean-Pierre was an inspiration to generations of artists,” said Douglas Singleton, executive director of Charlotte Ballet. “His legacy is joyful leadership, inspired by the artists who attract the best choreographers and the choreographers who attract the best artists while celebrating our Charlotte community.”
Charlotte Ballet’s home on North Tryon Street was built and branded to honor its founders – the Patricia McBride and Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux Center for Dance – in 2010. The couple danced together at New York City Ballet, under the direction of the legendary George Balanchine.
Balanchine wasn’t the only renowned choreographer to work with Bonnefoux and create dances specifically for him. Jerome Robbins, Maurice Béjart and Roland Petit were among other luminaries he worked with.
Kati Hanlon Mayo, an associate director at Charlotte Ballet Academy, danced under the direction of Bonnefoux for more than 20 years and said he was a huge force in her life. “Jean-Pierre wasn’t just an incredible dancer, mentor, coach, and creator,” she said, “he truly cared about the people he worked with. At Charlotte Ballet, he brought together such a special group of artists and made sure we were seen and challenged.”
“My career, and my adult life, were shaped by his generosity, his belief in me, and the way he and Patti built our company with so much intention. I feel lucky to have been a part of it. I’ll miss him with all of my heart.”
