Andre Valladon
Assistant Artistic Director
Mr. Valadon joined DANB in 2007. He studied at Studio de Danças Cristina Helena in Brazil before joining, first Grupo Corpo Brazilian Dance Company and then Companhia de Dança do Palácio das Artes where he became Principal Dancer. In 1995, he represented Brazil at the International Dance Competition in Osaka, Japan where he received the “Lift Prize” and a contract with Jeune Ballet de France where he danced for a year before joining Ballet du Rhin for a year. Mr. Valladon was then invited to join the Rio de Janeiro Municipal Theatre Ballet, for the next 7 years, as Principal Dancer. In 2005 he assumed the role of Maître de Ballet at Sesiminas Dance Company where he also acted as principal dancer which was his last post in Brazil before joining DANB. Mr. Valladon has been awarded several gold medals, Revelation Prize, Character Dance Revelation Prize, and Grand Prix at the Festival de Dança de Joinville. He has also been awarded Gold Medal in classic and contemporary at the Brazilian Dance Council Competition, Lift Prize and the International Dance Competition in Japan, and finalist in the USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi, and Concours de Danse de Paris, France. Mr. Valladon has danced principal roles in all the timeless classical ballets and is a descriptive and inventive contemporary dancer. Roles created for him at DANB include principal roles in Robin Hood, L’Amour, Choices, Phantom, Constellations, Vampyra, ‘Bottom’ in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Tango, Fused Tutu, Nessum Dorma, and Raindrop Prelude. Mr. Valladon’s technical virtuosity and mature artistry are a remarkable inspiration to dancers and audiences around the world.