Fabrice Calmels has signed up with IMG Models, so the “world's tallest dancer”, and lead dancer with the Joffrey Ballet, adds another string to his bow. His height doesn't go unnoticed… well 6′ 6.5″ (199cm) is tall for anyone, but for a dancer who needs to keep all those long limbs elegantly coordinated, it is especially notable. In fact, it is a Guinness World Record.
I am thrilled to have joined IMG models. I have been a lead dancer with the Joffrey Ballet for many years while also developing multiple creative projects on the side.
A product of the Paris Opera Ballet School, he's spent most of his adult life in the United States. In 2002, he joined the Joffrey Ballet, and in 2004 he became a lead dancer with the company.
IMG has demonstrated a great understanding of who I am and what I would like to achieve in the next phase of my career. I believe with them I will be able to achieve a seamless link between who I am and what I have previously accomplished with new and exciting opportunities.
Calmels – one of the earliest respondents to our Gramilano Questionnaire – recently appeared in a Versace campaign video, shot by Bruce Weber, and we see our page visits shoot up when he appears as a judge on So You Think You Can Dance.
Kevin Apana, who is head of IMG Model's Men's Board, in a statement said,
We are pleased to welcome Fabrice into our IMG family. His discipline at a young age reminds us there is nothing that can't be accomplished with hard work and determination. We look forward to collaborating with him on new opportunities, and we are excited about what is ahead.
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Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano') about dance, opera, music and photography for people “who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like”. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy.
His scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman's Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the ‘Danza in Italia' column for Dancing Times magazine.
