Artists/Directors

Paris National Opera

Artists

Here is a short presentation of some famous dancers but can’t be an exhaustive list.
Directors : o Elisabeth Platel: She was born in 1959 and began dancing when she was six, after a doctor advised her. First, she was at the St Germain-en Laye’s conservatory where her teacher was Christine Vaussard. In 1975, she won the first prize that’s allowed her to enter Paris National Opera School at the last level. Her teacher, Jacqueline Cochet, was passionate and inventive, knowing children psychology. So, when you link a very bright student with her, it makes an “étoile”. But even if Elisabeth Platel was gifted, her mentor didn’t want she fretted and her courses were not so easy. In 1976, she entered the “corps de ballet”, in 1979 she was “Première danseuse” and the 23th of November 1981, after her first representation of “Giselle”, she was named “danseuse étoile”. Now, Elisabeth Platel is the headmistress of the Opera School since July 2004.
o Claude Bessy : She was born in Paris in 1932. She entered Paris National Opera School when she was nine and two years later was admitted in the “corps de ballet”. At nineteen, she was “première danseuse” and in 1956, “étoile”. She has danced with the American ballet in the Metropolitan opera of New-York city. In 1972, she is nominated as director of the Opera Dance School thanks to her perfect knowledge of classic dance, new choreographic disciplines and all the repertory. Top
Choreographers: o Rudolf Noureev: He was born in 1938, in a train to Vladivostok. In 1959, he was admitted to the Kirov “corps de ballet” where he becomes rapidly a soloist. In 1961, while he was on tour in France with the Kirov, he asked for political asylum. Then, in 1983, he is nominated director of Dance in Paris Opera. In 1989, he left Paris to Leningrad where he returned on the scene with the Kirov. In 1993, he died in Paris. Nowadays, he stays an emblem and one of the best dancers and choreographers of the world.
o Maurice Béjart: He was born in 1927 in Marseille. Dancer and then choreographer, he began in Paris. When he was fourteen he began dancing and entered Paris Opera in 1945. In 1960, he created his own company in Bruxelles and 25 years later, moved it in Lausanne. One of his greatest ballets is surely the “bolero” on Maurice Ravel music. He created it in 1961 and its particularity is that there is always a central role (man or woman) hedged in a group of dancers. Top
“Etoiles”: o Patrick Dupond: He was born in Paris in 1939. His passion for dancing came when he assisted to a dance course. So, he began dancing and right from the beginning, he is noticed by his talent. Max Bozzoni, professor at Paris Opera, became his master but Patrick Dupond was not a calm boy. In 1970, he entered Paris Opera where he worked a lot to rejoin the best end become an “étoile”. His dream is accomplished in 1980. He is an excellent dancer but especially known to be unruly.
o Laëtitia Pujol: She was born in 1975 in Spain and studied at Toulouse regional conservatory. In 1992, she won the first prize of Lausanne examination that allowed her to enter directly in the last division of Paris Opera. In 1993, she is accepted in the “corps de ballet”. In 1994 she was “coryphée”, in 1999, “sujet”, in 2000, “première danseuse” and on May 2nd 2002, she received the level of “étoile”. Top