The Benois De La Danse Prize was founded by the International Dance Association in Moscow in 1991. The moment this initiative was created, it received immediate recognition from experts. Among those serving on the first jury were legendary ballet personalities such as Galina Ulanova, Yuri Grigorovich, Yvette Chauvire, Rudolf Nureyev, Carla Fracci, Kirsten Ralov and John Neumeier. The Benois de la Danse was first awarded on 29 April, 1992 during a ce¬remony on the stage of the Bolshoi Theatre. The award was bestowed upon German choreographer, John Neumeier, the Russian ballerina, Nadejda Gratcheva and two other famous dancers, Julio Bocca of Argentina and Alexander Koelpin of Denmark.

The date the award is granted every year is not a product of chance. April 29 is the Birthday of the great ballet reformer, Jean-Georges Noverre (1727-1810) and is also International Dance Day. In 1992, the main ideas and the award's philosophy were also pronounced: each year, this award honors extraordinary events on the world's ballet stages, including choreographic accomplishments and roles of all kind, every genre and shape. The first goal is to show the audience the best performances, regardless if they were by famous choreogra¬phers, ballerinas, dancers or their younger colleagues. Secondly, it aims to lead the best representatives of different dance styles and schools together and, with help of this event, allow them to continue this creative interaction. Finally, the goal is to support veterans of ballet financially with funds from gala concerts. In the fall of 1992 UNESCO noticed this important initiative, launched by Russian ballet personalities. This prominent global organization valued the character of the award and the impulse it would give stage performing and the art of dance as a whole, and adopted the patronage of Benois de la Danse.

There are three main categories for the Prix Benois de la Danse: best choreographer, the best female dancer and best male dancer. Since the award was founded, some very talented representatives from different national ballet schools have been among the winners. In the past years two more categories have been added: the award is now also given to the best composer and the best stage designer. In 2000 the award for lifetime achievement was bestowed Alicia Alonso.

The Prix Benois de la Danse was named after the outstanding, globally renowned Alexandre Benois (1870-1960) whose work combined all kinds of art in one: music, theatre, stage design, art sciences. Alexandre Benois is one of the most prominent figures of the ballet world, one of the inspirations of the famous «Russian Seasons», which were organized in Paris by S. Diaghilev in the early 20th century and later shaped the aesthetics of dance as a whole. He also heads a large family of artists, which gave the world at least 45 actors, architects, composers, sculptors and poets. In the 1920s Benois' son, the painter Nicolas Benois (1901-1988), joined his father's side. One of the representatives of the young Benois generation, French sculptor, Igor Ustinov, created the sculpture of the Benois de la Danse award in 1992.

The Benois de la Dance award ceremony took place on the stage of the Bolshoi Theatre six times. The UNESCO Palace in Paris, the Warsaw National Opera, the Moscow Kremlin Palace and the stage of the German Staatsoper Unter Den Linden, have also been its sites.

In February, 2004 Benois de la Dance Projekt was presented with grate success in London. It was the Gala-evening in Sadler’s Wells Theatre with the laureates of last years.