A Swiss dancer and choreographer, Etienne graduated in classical dance at the Ballet School of John Cranko in Stuttgart, the Institute of Dance of the Royal Flemish Ballet in Antwerp and the School of American Ballet in New York. Improvement of his skill took place under the leadership of David Howard on whose suggestion he started his career in the USA (Atlantic Ballet Company). Later he acted in the Royal Flemish Ballet and the Ballet of the 20th Century in Brussels under the leadership of Maurice Béjart and in the Saiga Ballet, Ochoi Ballet in Japan and as a soloist he danced for the Ballet of Tuscany (Ballet de Toscane) in Firenza where he interpreted major roles under the leadership of several renowned European choreographers. In 1984 he founded the Sinopia Dance Group, the group of contemporary dance, in which he also took part as a dancer. For the group he produced thirty choreographies played in many countries all over the world. As a choreographer he acted also in the Opera in Salzburg and in ensembles such as the Young International Ballet in Cannes, the Grand Theatre Ballet in Geneva, the Cathy Sharp Dance Group, CH – the Dance Theatre in Zurich, the Teatro del Espacio in Mexico. He also co-operates with the Swiss TV.

His work includes pieces such as Le Drap, Affinités mutantes, Harold and Maude – an adaptation based on the play by Colin Higgins (for Yvette Chauviré, the “primabalerina assoluta” of the Opera of Paris, and Rosella Hightower, the star of the Ballet of Marquise de Cuevas), Romeo and Juliet, Zorba (the Congress Centre) in Zurich and , of course the original ballet Face to Face a collection of short dances each depicting a challenge faced by many developing-world women.

Etienne Frey teaches classical and contemporary ballet in Geneva where he is ebased. He regularly stages in Italy, Brazil and Japan within the frame international dance fellowships.