Hubert Petit-Phar

Hubert Petit-Phar began his choreographic studies at the Joseph Russillo School in Paris with Régina Rils and Alvin McDuffie, who would guide him toward Mudra International. There, from 1983 to 1986, he followed a multidisciplinary curriculum under the direction of Maurice Béjart.
As a dancer with Mudra Junior from 1985 to 1988 (under the direction of Jan Nuts), he also performed with several companies in the Netherlands (including Black Vibration) and collaborated with various collectives in Belgium.
While in the Netherlands, he had a pivotal encounter with American choreographer Félix White (Katherine Dunham Company). Alongside him, he explored a new aesthetic approach.

From 1988 to 1992, he danced with the Dance Theater of Harlem under the direction of Arthur Mitchell, navigating through a wide range of choreographic styles, including those of Balanchine, Billy Wilson, Jerome Robbins, Geoffrey Holder, and Robert North.
He appeared as a guest artist in the opera Porgy and Bess at the Metropolitan Opera. During his years in New York, he developed his choreographic language with Bessie Schoenberg and also performed with the Vermont Ballet and the Contemporary Ballet (under the direction of J. Brown).

Upon returning to France, Hubert continued his career as a dancer—working with companies such as In Vivo and Calabash—while also teaching at various training centers.

He has choreographed for several companies and training institutions in France and across Europe, including Cie For Nuts, the Zurich Ballet School, the Dance Academy of Tilburg, and Cie Lullaby.
He has embarked on a research journey exploring Jazz Culture and its relationship to the contemporary world.

He obtained both his Diplôme d’État (D.E) and Certificat d’Aptitude (C.A).
Hubert has worked with the ERD at the Centre National de la Danse (CND) and served as a D.E. instructor at the PESMD in Bordeaux and Poitiers, as well as at the Cefedem in Nantes.

In 2007, he co-founded Compagnie La Mangrove with Delphine Cammal, through which they foster creative and community-based projects connecting Guadeloupe and Seine-Saint-Denis.

His choreographic works draw inspiration from the literary works of Maryse Condé and Édouard Glissant.

In parallel with his choreographic career, Hubert is currently involved in professional training programs in the Guadeloupe region.

Hubert Petit-Phar was named Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters in December 2023.