Lyna Khoudri and Anamaria Vartolomei. Photo François Goize. Courtesy l’Opéra national de Paris
Last night, the Palais Garnier, Paris’s 17th century opera house, sparkled like never before for the occasion of its annual Paris Opera Ballet fundraiser gala. This year’s edition honored the late dance director Patrick Dupond and while it is customary for the soiree to begin with a proud and glorious march from the depths of the stage to bow to the audience, this year, its company and dance students were joined by stars of the past.
Paris Opera Ballet company featuring étoiles from years’ past honoring the late dance director Patrick Dupond. Photo Agathe Poueney. Courtesy l’Opéra national de Paris
As the trumpeting music of Hector Berlioz quieted, the new dance director José Martinez and mistress of ceremony journalist Claire Chazal took to the stage to announce the exceptional presence of 38 former étoiles—among them Agnès Letestu, Marie-Claude Pietragalla and Claude Bessy. Applause rained down from the heights of the Palais Garnier for the dancers who had come to bow to their public in honor of the man who described himself as an “ami” of all those who loved dance. After the first intermission, a short film reminded the audience of Dupond’s spectacular career, which saw him become an étoile in 1980 and later nominated director of dance of the Paris Opera Ballet from 1990 to 1995. The hosts also honored Dupond’s partner Leïla Da Rocha, who accompanied the dancer in his final years. The two founded an international dance school, the White Eagle Dance Company in Bordeaux, which still stands today.
Vanessa Paradis. Photo Françoise Goize
Lyna Khoudri and Anamaria Vartolomei. Photo François Goize
Whitney Peak. Photo François Goize
Dorothée Gilbert. Photo François Goize
Pierre Hardy. Photo François Goize
Fotini Peluso. Photo François Goize
Léonore Baulac. Photo Virgile Guinard
Myriam Ould Braham & Laura Hecquet. Photo Virgile Guinard
Valentine Colosante. Photo Virginie Guinard
Alexander Neef. Photo Dominique Maitre
Claire Chazal. Photo Dominique Maitre
A star-studded house, Lyna Khoudri, Whitney Peak, and Vanessa Paradis, among many others were spotted in a sea of black tie fashion applauding the first performance, Vaslaw by John Neumeier. Danced to Johann Sebastian Bach piano music performed on-stage, this dance was constructed around Dupond and celebrates the memory of the great dancer Vaslaw Nijinsky. The second performance, Le chant du compagnon errant by Maurice Béjart to music by Gustave Mahler was performed by étoiles Germain Louvet and Hugo Marchand. Louvet was mesmerizing in this role; his movements so lithe and lyrical that his human body appeared replaced by the spirit of high art. The final, virtuoso performance, Etudes by Harald Lander with music by Carol Czerny, was performed by étoiles Valentine Colosante, Paul Marque, and subject Guillaume Diop.
Etudes by Harald Lander performed at the Paris Opera Ballet Gala. Photo Julien Benhamou. Courtesy l’Opéra national de Paris
In an evening whereby the programming highlighted the dances that had marked Dupond’s career, there was a fantastic surprise in the inclusion of the subject Guillaume Diop, who rose to the occasion to perform alongside étoile Paul Marque. Where Marque incarnated ebullient energy and masterful technique, Diop brought promise, and a peak of things to come. To applause, Pietragalla, an étoile and former dance partner of Dupond, could be overheard oohing, “Quelle virtuosité!” from her seat.
The Palais Garnier, decorated with ribbons and flowers for the Pairs Opera Ballet Gala 2023. Courtesy l’Opéra national de Paris
The evening, so rich emotions—especially wonder and nostalgia—was celebrated with a Michelin-starred feast in the halls of the Palais Garnier. While the intermissions offered hors d’oeuvres from chef Tatiana Levha, dinner for the nearly 750 guests featured a beet and sumac entré by Nadia Sammut, followed by a Wellington veal and truffle main by Sven Chartier, and a chocolate pie desert by Jade Genin. At 1am, the halls were still full, with many heading to the afterparty in the rooms below. This evening, organized by the AROP, Association pour le Rayonnement de l’Opéra de Paris, was made possible with the generous support of the maison Chanel, patron of the Paris Opera Ballet and Rolex, timepiece of the Paris Opera. Taking it all in, one couldn’t help but sigh, looking up at the giant ribbons circling the iconic marble staircase. “Paris. The Ballet. What a gift.”
