Béjart Ballet Lausanne is one of the most internationally renowned dance companies in the world, built on the singular artistic vision of Maurice Béjart (1927–2007), widely considered one of the most influential choreographers of the 20th century. The company was founded in Lausanne, Switzerland in 1987, after Béjart relocated from Brussels where he had previously led the Ballet of the 20th Century.
Béjart transformed ballet from an elite art form into a mass spectacle, creating large-scale theatrical works that fused classical technique with philosophy, literature, and popular culture. Iconic productions such as Bolero, The Rite of Spring, and The Magic Flute broke records for attendance, filling arenas and sports halls across Europe and beyond. His work spoke directly to young audiences and crossed boundaries of gender, nationality, and tradition with provocative originality.
Following Béjart's death in 2007, Gil Roman led the company for over a decade, preserving and extending the repertoire. In 2024, Julien Favreau was appointed as Artistic Director, tasked with carrying the legacy forward while bringing fresh creative energy to the company's future programming. The company is based at the Théâtre de Beaulieu in Lausanne and continues to tour extensively across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.