Updated 5/10/23. The ballet Don Quixote offers its principal ballerina the unique chance to play two different characters in one role: there’s Kitri herself, a vivacious village girl, and then Dulcinea, Don Quixote’s idealized love, who takes on the form of Kitri in his dream. The Paris Opéra Ballet’s Aurélie Dupont, a former étoile and […]
Updated 4/12/23. When La Sylphide premiered at the Paris Opéra Ballet in 1832, it was an instant hit, establishing the romantic aesthetic and ushering in a golden age of French ballet. La Sylphide‘s legacy is part of the fabric of the Paris Opéra Ballet—as is Aurélie Dupont, the company’s artistic director from 2016-2022 and former […]
This story originally appeared in the June/July 2016 issue of Pointe. The Paris Opéra Ballet is gearing up for another transition. This summer, Benjamin Millepied will hand over the reins of the company to former étoile Aurélie Dupont, who was hastily appointed artistic director in February in the wake of Millepied’s abrupt resignation. Her tenure […]
Paris Opéra Ballet étoiles have to be more than exquisite dancers: They must have all the poise, authority and elegance it takes to command the Palais Garnier stage. As Aurora in this excerpt from a 2000 taping of The Sleeping Beauty, Aurélie Dupont radiates with quintessentially French classicism. Even before she starts dancing, she enthralls […]
In what’s proving to be a year of many ballerina retirements, Paris Ópera Ballet star Aurélie Dupont has announced that she will step down from the company next month. The 42-year-old dancer has been with the Ópera for 32 years, and has been an étoile for 17 of them. Her final performance on May 18, […]
When Aurélie Dupont unexpectedly resigned as the Paris Opéra Ballet’s director of dance last June, the company and fans alike were left wondering who would be next to steer the 154-member troupe. The POB opened its season in September without a director of dance, and now, the long-awaited announcement has arrived that José Martinez will take up […]
As the 2021–22 season comes to a close, companies around the globe have announced a slew of artist promotions, new arrivals, departures and more. Keep current with the latest updates in this round-up. Paris Opéra Ballet After six years as artistic director, Aurélie Dupont will depart the Paris Opéra Ballet effective July 31, 2022. Dupont, […]
May has been an exciting month for career news, from newly minted principals to international moves. Check out the latest in promotions and new hires. Paris Opéra Ballet On April 23, Paris Opéra Ballet premier danseur François Alu was promoted to étoile, the company’s highest rank. Aurélie Dupont, the ballet’s director of dance, and Paris […]