Maurice Béjart
He ripped ballet from its gilded cage, creating explosive, philosophical spectacles that filled stadiums and shocked the establishment.
1927–2007 (age 80)·French-born Swiss ballet dancer and choreographer·Birthday: January 1·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Maurice Béjart was a choreographic revolutionary who believed dance belonged to the masses, not just the elite. Born in Marseille, he trained under prestigious teachers but quickly chafed at classical ballet's conventions. In the 1950s and 60s, he forged a new, muscular, and theatrical style, setting works to rock music and Eastern spiritual texts as often as to symphonies. His company, Ballet du XXe Siècle, became a global phenomenon, performing his epic pieces like 'The Rite of Spring' and his nine-hour 'The Kabuki' in sports arenas. He relocated to Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1987, where his Béjart Ballet Lausanne continued his mission of making dance a grand, accessible, and emotionally charged art form until his death.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Maurice was born in 1927, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Maurice Was Born
The biggest hits of 1927
#1 Movie
Wings
Maurice's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1927Born
Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic; The Jazz Singer premieres
President: Calvin Coolidge"My Blue Heaven" — Gene Austin
1932Started school
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1940Became a teenager
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1943Could drive
Allies invade Sicily; Battle of Stalingrad ends
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,290Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I've Heard That Song Before" — Harry JamesBest Picture: Casablanca
1945Could vote
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1948Turned 21
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1957Turned 30
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1967Turned 40
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1977Turned 50
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1987Turned 60
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1997Turned 70
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 80
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
Key Achievements
- Founded and directed the globally touring Ballet du XXe Siècle, later the Béjart Ballet Lausanne.
- Choreographed his monumental 'Symphonie pour un Homme Seul' in 1955, establishing his signature aggressive, theatrical style.
- Created 'Boléro' (1961) for the Paris Opera Ballet, a hypnotic and iconic interpretation of Ravel's score.
- Directed several operas and authored books, expanding his artistic influence beyond the stage.
Did You Know?
His birth name was Maurice-Jean Berger; 'Béjart' was a stage name taken from the sister-in-law of French playwright Molière.
He was a lifelong student of philosophy and mysticism, interests deeply reflected in his thematic choices.
He posthumously received Swiss citizenship in 2007, the year of his death.
He created roles for some of the 20th century's greatest male dancers, including Jorge Donn.
“Dance is the hidden language of the soul.”
