The Paris Opera expresses its deep emotion at the news of Éric Vu An's death.

Born in Paris in 1964, he entered the Paris Opera Ballet School at the age of 10. Granted a dispensation on account of his age, he joined the Paris Opéra corps de ballet in 1979 at the age of 15. This marked the start of his career on the stage of the Palais Garnier, where he was promoted to subject and became the interpreter of great roles in the classical repertoire, in choreographies by Rudolf Nureyev, George Balanchine, Roland Petit, William Forsythe and Maurice Béjart.

In 1986, his magnificent interpretation of Mephisto in the ballet Arépo led, to his detriment, to heated controversy in the ballet world. Guest choreographer Maurice Béjart announced the appointment of Eric Vu An as Etoile without having the prerogative; Rudolf Nureyev, then Director of Dance at the Opéra and the only person authorized to make Etoile appointments, rejected the announcement. From 1987 onwards, Eric Vu An was a guest soloist at the Paris Opéra, and later a teacher at a school to which he would always remain attached.

His career continues on the international stage - guest artist, choreographer, director of ballets in Bordeaux, Avignon and Marseille, and since 2009 of Ballet Nice Méditerranée - and opens up to other disciplines such as cinema, singing and hosting dance programs.

Éric Vu An was Commandeur des Arts et Lettres, Officier de l'Ordre National du Mérite and Officier de la Légion d'Honneur.

The Paris Opera will always remember Éric Vu An's immense talent and grace, his elegance, the power, precision and delicacy of his art, which have made him one of the most emblematic dancers of his generation.