Muriel Maffre

Muriel Maffre was born in 1966 in Enghien-les-Bains, France. Her ballet instruction began at the Paris Opera Ballet School, where she was a student for 5 years, and continued at Paris National Conservatory where she graduated with a Premier Prix with honors. Upon the completion of her training, she danced with the Hamburg Ballett as a member of the corps de ballet before continuing her career at the Ballets de Monte-Carlo, where she reached the status of Premier Danseur. 

In 1990 she joined the San Francisco Ballet as a Principal Dancer and had a 17-year career with the company. During her time with the San Francisco Ballet, she received her B.A. degree in Performing Arts from Saint Mary’s College.

Following her retirement from dancing, Maffre received her M.A. in Museum Studies from John F. Kennedy University and pursued a career in dance education and public humanities. She has worked at a variety of institutions including the Richmond Art Center, LINES Ballet, Stanford University, the Oakland Museum of California, the Cantor Art Center, and the Museum of Performance and Design. 

Throughout her career Maffre has been the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including Chevalier in the Order of Arts and Letters, Isadora Duncan Award for Outstanding Achievement in Individual Performance, Gold Medalist at the Paris First International Ballet Competition, and Arts Honoree at the French American International School of San Francisco. 

After almost 30 years in the Bay Area, Maffre returned to France to found Danse Parkinson France, which offers dance workshops across France for people living with Parkinson’s disease and their caregivers. In 2024 she also began a role as Director of Choreographic Studies at Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse (CNSMDP). 

Maffre at the Paris Opera Ballet School, which she attended as a young student for 5 years. Photo by Jacques Aubin. 

Les Ballets de Monte Carlo

Maffre performing in the Ballets de Monte Carlo production of "Giselle", 1985. Choreography by Pierre Lacotte. Photo by Francette Levieux. 
Maffre posing with fellow Ballet de Monte Carlo dancer Frederic Olivieri. Photo by Sylvia Chaban. 
Maffre performing in "Napoli" as a member of the Ballets de Monte Carlo, 1988. Choreography by August Bournonville. Photographer unknown. 
Maffre and Olivier Wecxsteen perform in the Ballets de Monte Carlo premier of "In the Middle... Somewhat Elevated", 1989. Choreography by William Forsythe. Music by Tom Willems. Photo by Mac Burnie. 
Maffre performing as the White Swan in the Ballets de Monte Carlo production of "Swan Lake", 1987. Choreography by Ben Stevenson. Photo by Francette Levieux. 
Maffre performing in the Ballets de Monte Carlo production of "Prodigal Son", 1986. Choreography by George Balanchine. Photo by Sylvia Chaban. 
Maffre and Jean Baptiste Bello-Portu performing in the Ballets de Monte Carlo production of "Jeunehomme", 1986. Choreography by Uwe Scholz. Costumes and scenography by Karl Lagerfeld. Music by Mozart. Photo by F. Morlot. 
Note from Karl Lagerfeld to Maffre, circa 1980s. Lagerfeld designed the costumes worn by dancers in the Ballets de Monte Carlo production of "Jeunehomme". 

San Francisco Ballet

Maffre in San Francisco Ballet production of "In Perpetuum", 1990. Choreography by Val Caniparoli. Photo by Marty Sohl. 
Maffre in the San Francisco Ballet production of "Bugaku". Photo by Marty Sohl. 
Maffre in San Francisco Ballet production of "La Sylphide" (Bournonville), 1990. Photo by Marty Sohl. 
Maffre as the White Swan in the San Francisco Ballet Production of "Swan Lake", 1992. Photo by Marty Sohl. 
Maffre in the San Francisco Ballet production of "Taiko", 1999. Photo by Marty Sohl. 
Muriel Maffre