Ballets de Monte-Carlo marks 40 years at Grimaldi Forum

Four decades after its founding, the Ballets de Monte-Carlo is marking its anniversary with a celebratory performance at the Grimaldi Forum, where artistic director Jean-Christophe Maillot has described the occasion as both a family gathering and a tribute to Princess Caroline, the company's driving force since its creation.

Maillot, who has led the company throughout its existence, says his greatest source of pride is that the Ballets de Monte-Carlo has never entered decline - a rare achievement for a repertory company operating over such a span. The anniversary programme is being shaped as a shared moment with the public as much as an internal milestone, with Princess Caroline central to the commemorations in recognition of her role in building the institution.

The Grimaldi Forum on the Avenue Princesse Grace provides a fitting stage for the occasion, having hosted many of the company's most significant productions over the years. For residents and culture-goers in the Principality, the anniversary represents one of Monaco's most sustained artistic commitments - a company that has grown from a national project into a respected name on the international dance circuit without ever leaving its home base.