Colette Malye studied dance at the Ballet School of the Paris Opera (1971-1973), then at the Conservatoire de Paris (1973-1976).
In 1977, at the age of 16, she joined the Ballet Théâtre Joseph Russillo. Until 1984, she performed in various creations: Requiem – 1977, Orphée – 1980.
In 1983, she won the first prize at the Arcachon International Contemporary Dance Competition.
In 1986, she was hired by Carolyn Carlson, first as a dancer for the creations at the Théâtre de la Ville (Still Waters – 1986 and Dark – 1988 ), then as a choreographic assistant for the creations of Shamrock (1987) at the Het National Ballet in Amsterdam, Signes for the Paris Opera (1997), Out of Focus for the Ballet de Marseille (2003) as well as the latest creations of the company Now (2014) and The Tree (2021).
She also collaborates with choreographer Tero Saarinen for the Lyon Opera Ballet (Gaspard 1999) and Sini (2001).