In homage to Patrick Dupond, who passed away in 2021, the Paris Opera celebrated, during an exceptional dance Gala, the artist who, throughout a dazzling and luminous career, embodied the face of the ballet company on every continent. 

An internationally renowned ballet dancer, Dupond trained at the Opera’s Ballet School, was named Étoile (principal dancer) in 1980, then Director of Dance from 1990 to 1995. Patrick Dupond danced for and inspired the major choreographers of his time.

The traditional Défilé was inspired by that of the Opening season Ballet Gala held in 1990, where Patrick Dupond invited « all the Etoiles that moved the walls of the theatre and the spectators’ hearts in Paris and around the world during those last forty years » to join the procession. 

Marc Moreau then interpreted the title-role of Vaslaw, creation of John Neumeier, a work constructed around Patrick Dupond, which celebrates the memory of another great dancer : Vaslav Nijinsky. Germain Louvet and Hugo Marchand interpreted Maurice Béjart’s Song of a Wayfarer, a moving “pas de deux” that Patrick Dupond danced with his great friend Jean‑Marie Didière as well as with Rudolf Nureyev. Valentine Colasante, Guillaume Diop and Paul Marque ended the performance with Études, choreographed by Harald Lander, a virtuoso synthesis of classical technique. With this ballet, dear to Dupond’s heart, and which he often programmed when he was the company’s director, the Paris Opera pays tribute to this immense figure of dance.

At the end of the performance, nearly 750 guests enjoyed a dinner courtesy of chefs Sven Chartier, Tatiana Levha, Nadia Sammut and Jade Génin, and orchestrated by Marine Bidaud. The Maison de Champagne Taittinger accompanied this exceptional menu.

Organized by the AROP, Association pour le Rayonnement de l'Opéra de Paris, this event raised funds for the benefit of the Opera's activities, thanks to the exceptional support of Rolex, Timepiece of the Paris Opera, of Chanel, Patron of the Paris Opera Ballet and of the Hommage à Patrick Dupond Gala, as well as generous donors from the Honorary Committee, individuals, and corporate donors.

Alexander Neef, Director of the Paris Opera
José Martinez, Dance Director of the Paris Opera
Mikhaïl Agrest, Conductor

The Étoile dancers of the Paris Opera Ballet:

Dorothée Gilbert, Ludmila Pagliero, Myriam Ould-Braham, Léonore Baulac, Amandine Albisson, Valentine Colasante, Laura Hecquet

Hugo Marchand, Germain Louvet, Mathieu Ganio, Paul Marque

Former Étoiles participating at the Défilé (by order of nomination, from the most recent to last) :

Mr. François Alu, Mrs. Alice Renavand, Mrs. Eleonora Abbagnato, Mr. Stéphane Bullion, Mr. Karl Paquette, Mrs. Isabelle Ciaravola, Mr. Hervé Moreau, Mrs. Delphine Moussin, Mr. Wilfried Romoli, Mrs. Marie-Agnès Gillot, Mrs. Clairemarie Osta, Mrs. Laëtitia Pujol, Mr. Jean-Guillaume Bart, Mrs. Agnès Letestu, Mr. Nicolas Le Riche, Mrs. Carole Arbo, Mrs. Fanny Gaïda, Mrs. Marie-Claude Pietragalla, Mrs. Elisabeth Maurin , Mr. Manuel Legris, Mr. Laurent Hilaire, Mrs. Isabelle Guérin, Mrs. Françoise Legrée, Mrs. Monique Loudières, Mrs. Elisabeth Platel, Mrs. Claude de Vulpian, Mrs. Florence Clerc, Mrs. Dominique Khalfouni, Mrs. Carolyn Carlson, Mr. Jean Guizerix, Mrs. Claudette Scouarnec, Mr. Georges Piletta, Mrs. Noëlla Pontois, Mrs. Nanon Thibon, Mr. Cyrille Atanassoff, Mrs. Josette Amiel, Mrs. Claude Bessy

And :

Vanessa Paradis, Lyna Khoudri, Xavier Veilhan, Agathe Rousselle, Clara Luciani, Louise Follain, Claire Laffut, Eddy de Pretto, Arnaud Valois, Pierre Hardy, Woodkid, Benjamin Voisin, Vanessa Seward & Bertrand Burgalat, Maria Bernad, Anne Berest & Grégoire Chertok, Alma Jodorowsky & Félix de Givry, Zita Hanrot, Lou Lampros, Whitney Peak, Karidja Touré, Anamaria Vartolomei, Iman Perez, Fotini Peluso, Blanca Li, Olivier Zahm, Alexia Niedzielski, Alexandra Golovanoff, Alizée Gamberini, Pierre Yovanovitch, Lucie Saada, Panayotis Pascot…

HONORARY COMMITTEE :

Partners of the Paris National Opera

Rolex
Timepiece of the Paris Opera

CHANEL
Patron of the Paris Opera Ballet 

Paris Opera Ballet fundraiser Gala 21 February
Made possible with the generous support of Chanel, Patron of the Paris Opera Ballet & Rolex, Timepiece of the Paris Opera.