Élisabeth Platel
Encyclopedia
Élisabeth Platel is a French ballet dancer, born in Paris on 10 April 1959.
, she entered the Conservatoire de Paris in 1971, graduating with First Prize, which allowed her to complete her studies at the École de Danse de l'Opéra National de Paris. Influential teachers of Platel were Pierre Lacotte, who worked with her in the Paris Opera School and Raymond Franchetti, who owned a studio where the budding dancer was able to watch professional artists taking class, among others soloists from the Paris Opera like Noëlla Pontois, or guest stars like Rudolf Nureyev
.
Élisabeth entered the corps de ballet of the Paris Opéra Ballet
in 1976 as a quadrille at the age of 17. She advanced quickly to successive ranks of the company's hierarchy. The following year she was promoted to coryphée. In 1978 she became sujet and danced her first soloist roles in ballets by George Balanchine
, Divertimento No. 15 and The Four Temperaments. In 1979, at nineteen, she was appointed première danseuse.
In 1981 Platel started to prepare her first great classical ballet, La Sylphide
with Pierre Lacotte, her former teacher. La Sylphide, this landmark work from 1832 which introduced romanticism in ballet and made Marie Taglioni
a world famous ballerina, became one of Platel's signature roles during her career at the Paris Opera. In that same year she also learned and danced the leading roles in Swan Lake
, Paquita
, and Giselle
. At the issue of her debut as Giselle on 23 December 1981 she was nominated "étoile".
When Rudolf Nureyev was invited in 1981 to mount his Don Quixote for the Paris Opera, he chose Platel to dance the Queen of the Dryads. For Platel it meant the beginning of a successful artistic collaboration with Nureyev, who became, especially when he was director of the Paris Opera Ballet (1983-1989), one of the most important figures in her career.
In 1983, Rudolf Nureyev mounted his first full-length ballet as recently appointed director of the Paris Opera Ballet, Marius Petipa
's late masterpiece Raymonda
. Elisabeth Platel was chosen to dance the title role at the premiere. The following year she created the roles of Odette/Odile in Nureyev's new version of Swan Lake for the Paris Opera. Swan Lake is her most frequently performed ballet. Nureyev also entrusted her with the creation of the leading roles in his versions of The Sleeping Beauty (1989) and his final work for the Paris Opera La Bayadère
in 1992.
Elisabeth Platel has been a guest artist with Royal Ballet (London), Danish Royal Ballet, Hamburg Ballet, Ballet of the Vienna Opera, Ballet of the Berlin Opera, National Ballet of Finland, Bolshoi Ballet, Kirov Ballet, Royal New Zealand Ballet, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, Municipal Theatre in Rio de Janeiro.
. Paris Opéra rules require female étoiles to retire at 40 (male étoiles retire at 45). For the occasion she performed with two of her favourite partners, Nicolas Le Riche and Manuel Legris, who danced the role of James Act I and II respectively.
Élisabeth Platel continued to perform with the Paris Opera as "étoile invitée" (principal guest artist). In 2000 she performed La Bayadère and Raymonda, in 2001 A Midsummer Night's Dream. On 20 January 2003 she took part in the Gala performance for Rudolf Nureyev at the Palais Garnier, dancing the variation from Raymonda Act III.
Élisabeth Platel succeeded Claude Bessy
as director of the École de Danse at the beginning of the 2004-2005 season.
Career
After studying at the conservatoire in Saint-Germain-en-LayeSaint-Germain-en-Laye
Saint-Germain-en-Laye is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France in north-central France. It is located in the western suburbs of Paris from the centre.Inhabitants are called Saint-Germanois...
, she entered the Conservatoire de Paris in 1971, graduating with First Prize, which allowed her to complete her studies at the École de Danse de l'Opéra National de Paris. Influential teachers of Platel were Pierre Lacotte, who worked with her in the Paris Opera School and Raymond Franchetti, who owned a studio where the budding dancer was able to watch professional artists taking class, among others soloists from the Paris Opera like Noëlla Pontois, or guest stars like Rudolf Nureyev
Rudolf Nureyev
Rudolf Khametovich Nureyev was a Russian dancer, considered one of the most celebrated ballet dancers of the 20th century. Nureyev's artistic skills explored expressive areas of the dance, providing a new role to the male ballet dancer who once served only as support to the women.In 1961 he...
.
Élisabeth entered the corps de ballet of the Paris Opéra Ballet
Paris Opera Ballet
The Paris Opera Ballet is the oldest national ballet company in the world, and many European and international ballet companies can trace their origins to it...
in 1976 as a quadrille at the age of 17. She advanced quickly to successive ranks of the company's hierarchy. The following year she was promoted to coryphée. In 1978 she became sujet and danced her first soloist roles in ballets by George Balanchine
George Balanchine
George Balanchine , born Giorgi Balanchivadze in Saint Petersburg, Russia, to a Georgian father and a Russian mother, was one of the 20th century's most famous choreographers, a developer of ballet in the United States, co-founder and balletmaster of New York City Ballet...
, Divertimento No. 15 and The Four Temperaments. In 1979, at nineteen, she was appointed première danseuse.
In 1981 Platel started to prepare her first great classical ballet, La Sylphide
La Sylphide
La Sylphide is one of the world's oldest surviving romantic ballets. There were two versions of the ballet; the version choreographed by the Danish balletmaster August Bournonville is the only version known to have survived....
with Pierre Lacotte, her former teacher. La Sylphide, this landmark work from 1832 which introduced romanticism in ballet and made Marie Taglioni
Marie Taglioni
Marie Taglioni was a famous Italian/Swedish ballerina of the Romantic ballet era, a central figure in the history of European dance.-Biography:...
a world famous ballerina, became one of Platel's signature roles during her career at the Paris Opera. In that same year she also learned and danced the leading roles in Swan Lake
Swan Lake
Swan Lake ballet, op. 20, by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, composed 1875–1876. The scenario, initially in four acts, was fashioned from Russian folk tales and tells the story of Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer's curse. The choreographer of the original production was Julius Reisinger...
, Paquita
Paquita
Paquita is a ballet in two acts and three scenes, with libretto by Joseph Mazilier and Paul Foucher. Originally choreographed by Joseph Mazilier to the music of Edouard Deldevez. First presented by at the Salle Le Peletier by the Paris Opera Ballet on 1 April 1846...
, and Giselle
Giselle
Giselle is a ballet in two acts with a libretto by Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges and Théophile Gautier, music by Adolphe Adam, and choreography by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot. The librettist took his inspiration from a poem by Heinrich Heine...
. At the issue of her debut as Giselle on 23 December 1981 she was nominated "étoile".
When Rudolf Nureyev was invited in 1981 to mount his Don Quixote for the Paris Opera, he chose Platel to dance the Queen of the Dryads. For Platel it meant the beginning of a successful artistic collaboration with Nureyev, who became, especially when he was director of the Paris Opera Ballet (1983-1989), one of the most important figures in her career.
In 1983, Rudolf Nureyev mounted his first full-length ballet as recently appointed director of the Paris Opera Ballet, Marius Petipa
Marius Petipa
Victor Marius Alphonse Petipa was a French ballet dancer, teacher and choreographer. Petipa is considered to be the most influential ballet master and choreographer of ballet that has ever lived....
's late masterpiece Raymonda
Raymonda
Raymonda is a ballet in three acts, four scenes with an apotheosis, choreographed by Marius Petipa, with music by Alexander Glazunov, his opus 57. First presented by the Imperial Ballet at the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre on in St. Petersburg, Russia...
. Elisabeth Platel was chosen to dance the title role at the premiere. The following year she created the roles of Odette/Odile in Nureyev's new version of Swan Lake for the Paris Opera. Swan Lake is her most frequently performed ballet. Nureyev also entrusted her with the creation of the leading roles in his versions of The Sleeping Beauty (1989) and his final work for the Paris Opera La Bayadère
La Bayadère
La Bayadère is a ballet, originally staged in four acts and seven tableaux by French choreographer Marius Petipa to the music of Ludwig Minkus. La Bayadère was first performed by the Imperial Ballet at the Imperial Bolshoi Kamenny Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia, on...
in 1992.
Elisabeth Platel has been a guest artist with Royal Ballet (London), Danish Royal Ballet, Hamburg Ballet, Ballet of the Vienna Opera, Ballet of the Berlin Opera, National Ballet of Finland, Bolshoi Ballet, Kirov Ballet, Royal New Zealand Ballet, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, Municipal Theatre in Rio de Janeiro.
Retirement from the Paris Opéra Ballet
On the 9th of July, 1999, Platel gave her farewell performance as danseuse étoile of the Paris Opera in La SylphideLa Sylphide
La Sylphide is one of the world's oldest surviving romantic ballets. There were two versions of the ballet; the version choreographed by the Danish balletmaster August Bournonville is the only version known to have survived....
. Paris Opéra rules require female étoiles to retire at 40 (male étoiles retire at 45). For the occasion she performed with two of her favourite partners, Nicolas Le Riche and Manuel Legris, who danced the role of James Act I and II respectively.
Élisabeth Platel continued to perform with the Paris Opera as "étoile invitée" (principal guest artist). In 2000 she performed La Bayadère and Raymonda, in 2001 A Midsummer Night's Dream. On 20 January 2003 she took part in the Gala performance for Rudolf Nureyev at the Palais Garnier, dancing the variation from Raymonda Act III.
Élisabeth Platel succeeded Claude Bessy
Claude Bessy
Claude Bessy , also known as "Kickboy Face," was an iconic founder of the Los Angeles punk scene in the late 1970s.-Biography:...
as director of the École de Danse at the beginning of the 2004-2005 season.
Repertoire
- "Le Spectre de la rose", (FokineMichel FokineMichel Fokine was a groundbreaking Russian choreographer and dancer.-Biography:...
), young girl 1978. - "Divertimento No. 15" (Balanchine), soloist 1978.
- "The Four Temperaments" (Balanchine), third theme 1978.
- "Le Bourgeois GentilhommeLe Bourgeois Gentilhomme (ballet)Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme is a ballet made by New York City Ballet co-founder and balletmaster George Balanchine to the Concert Suite of Richard Strauss with a libretto after Molière...
" (Balanchine), pas de deux 1979. - "Life" (BéjartMaurice BéjartMaurice Béjart was a French born, Swiss choreographer who ran the Béjart Ballet Lausanne in Switzerland. He was the son of the French philosopher Gaston Berger.- Biography :...
), soloist 1979. - "Serait-ce la mort ? (Béjart), soloist 1979.
- "The Sleeping Beauty" (PetipaMarius PetipaVictor Marius Alphonse Petipa was a French ballet dancer, teacher and choreographer. Petipa is considered to be the most influential ballet master and choreographer of ballet that has ever lived....
, staged Alonso), Lilac Fairy 1979. - "Schema" (Nikolais), soloist 1980.
- "Le sacre du printempsThe Rite of SpringThe Rite of Spring, original French title Le sacre du printemps , is a ballet with music by Igor Stravinsky; choreography by Vaslav Nijinsky; and concept, set design and costumes by Nicholas Roerich...
" (Béjart), The chosen one 1980. - "Vaslaw" (John NeumeierJohn NeumeierJohn Neumeier is a well-known American ballet dancer, choreographer, and director. He has been the director and chief choreographer of the Hamburg Ballet since 1973. 5 years later he founded the Hamburg Ballet School, which also includes a boarding school...
), 1980. - "GiselleGiselleGiselle is a ballet in two acts with a libretto by Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges and Théophile Gautier, music by Adolphe Adam, and choreography by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot. The librettist took his inspiration from a poem by Heinrich Heine...
" (Petipa after CoralliJean CoralliJean Coralli , born Jean Coralli Peracini, was a French dancer and choreographer and later held the esteemed post of First Balletmaster of the Paris Opera Ballet...
PerrotJules PerrotJules-Joseph Perrot was a dancer and choreographer who later became Balletmaster of the Imperial Ballet in St. Petersburg, Russia...
), staged Alonso), Myrtha 1980. - "La SylphideLa SylphideLa Sylphide is one of the world's oldest surviving romantic ballets. There were two versions of the ballet; the version choreographed by the Danish balletmaster August Bournonville is the only version known to have survived....
" (Lacotte after TaglioniFilippo TaglioniFilippo Taglioni was an Italian dancer and choreographer and personal teacher to his own daughter, the famous Romantic ballerina Marie Taglioni. He is the son of Carlo and father of both Marie and Paul...
), title role 1981. - "Swan LakeSwan LakeSwan Lake ballet, op. 20, by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, composed 1875–1876. The scenario, initially in four acts, was fashioned from Russian folk tales and tells the story of Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer's curse. The choreographer of the original production was Julius Reisinger...
" (Bourmeister after Petipa, IvanovLev IvanovLev Ivanovich Ivanov was a Russian ballet dancer and choreographer and later, Second Balletmaster of the Imperial Ballet....
), Odette-Odile 1981. - "Giselle" (Petipa after Coralli Perrot, staged Alonso), title role 1981.
- "PaquitaPaquitaPaquita is a ballet in two acts and three scenes, with libretto by Joseph Mazilier and Paul Foucher. Originally choreographed by Joseph Mazilier to the music of Edouard Deldevez. First presented by at the Salle Le Peletier by the Paris Opera Ballet on 1 April 1846...
" (Vinogradov after Petipa), title role 1981. - "Don QuixoteDon Quixote (ballet)Don Quixote is a ballet originally staged in four acts and eight scenes, based on an episode taken from the famous novel Don Quixote de la Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes. It was originally choreographed by Marius Petipa to the music of Ludwig Minkus and was first presented by the Ballet of the...
" (NureyevRudolf NureyevRudolf Khametovich Nureyev was a Russian dancer, considered one of the most celebrated ballet dancers of the 20th century. Nureyev's artistic skills explored expressive areas of the dance, providing a new role to the male ballet dancer who once served only as support to the women.In 1961 he...
after Petipa), Queen of the Dryads 1981. - "Three preludes" (StevensonStevensonStevenson is an English language patronymic surname meaning "son of Steven". Its first historical record is from pre 10th century England. People with the name include:* Alexandra Stevenson , U.S. tennis player...
), soloist 1981. - "Le chant du rossignolLe chant du rossignolLe chant du rossignol, commonly referred to as The Song of the Nightingale, is a symphonic poem written by Igor Stravinsky in 1917. The song is an adaptation from his earlier work, Le rossignol , an opera from 1914. The opera, based on Hans Christian Andersen's tale The Nightingale, is set in...
" Massine, the nightingale 1981. - "The Sleeping Beauty" (Petipa, NijinskaBronislava NijinskaBronislava Nijinska - February 22, 1972)) was a Russian dancer, choreographer, and teacher of Polish descent.Nijinska was born in Minsk, the third child of the Polish dancers Tomasz and Eleonora Nijinska . Her brother was Vaslav Nijinsky...
, staged HightowerHightowerHightower may refer to:People with the surname Hightower:* George Robert Hightower , American academic, President of the Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical College* Hank Hightower , American pornographic actor...
) princess Aurora 1982. - "Voluntaries" (TetleyGlen TetleyGlen Tetley was an American ballet and modern dancer as well as a choreographer who mixed ballet and modern dance to create a new way of looking at dance, and is best known for his piece Pierrot Lunaire.-Biography:Glenford Andrew Tetley, Jr. was born on February 3, 1926 in Cleveland, Ohio...
), soloist 1982. - "SerenadeSerenade (ballet)Serenade is a ballet by George Balanchine, subsequently co-founder and balletmaster of New York City Ballet, to Tschaikovsky's 1880 Serenade for Strings in C, Op. 48...
" (Balanchine), soloist 1982. - "Pas de QuatrePas de QuatrePas de Quatre is a ballet divertissement choreographed by Jules Perrot in 1845, on the suggestion of Benjamin Lumley, Director at His Majestys Theatre to music composed by Cesare Pugni....
" (DolinAnton DolinSir Anton Dolin was an English ballet dancer and choreographer.Dolin was born in Slinfold in Sussex as Sydney Francis Patrick Chippendall Healey-Kay but was generally known as Patrick Kay. He joined Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes in 1921, was a principal there from 1924, and was a principal...
), Lucille Grahn 1982. - "Raymonda" (Nureyev after Petipa), title role 1983.
- "Don Quixote" (Nureyev after Petipa) Kitri 1983.
- "Agon" (Balanchine), pas de deux 1983.
- "La BayadèreLa BayadèreLa Bayadère is a ballet, originally staged in four acts and seven tableaux by French choreographer Marius Petipa to the music of Ludwig Minkus. La Bayadère was first performed by the Imperial Ballet at the Imperial Bolshoi Kamenny Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia, on...
" Act III "Kingdom of the Shades" (Nureyev after Petipa - Royal Ballet, London), Nikiya 1984. - "Marco Spada" (Lacotte after Mazillier), Marquise 1984.
- "Violin Concerto" (Balanchine), soloist 1984.
- "Carnaval" (Fokine), Estrella 1984.
- "Premier Orage" ChildsChilds-Surname:* Barney Childs , American composer* Barry and Sally Childs-Helton, American singer/songwriters* Brevard Childs , Biblical scholar* Chris Childs , retired American basketball player...
, soloist cr 1984. - "Swan Lake" (Nureyev after Petipa, Ivanov), Odette-Odile 1984.
- "Coppelia" (Skouratoff - Ballet de Bordeaux), Swanilda 1985.
- "Palais de Cristal Symphony in CSymphony in C (ballet)Symphony in C, originally titled Le Palais de Cristal, is a ballet made by New York City Ballet co-founder and balletmaster George Balanchine to Bizet's Symphony in C , which he wrote at the age of 17 while studying with Charles Gounod at the Paris Conservatory...
" (Balanchine), 2nd movement 1985. - "Concerto Barocco" (Balanchine), soloist 1985.
- "Before Nightfall" (ChristieChristieChristie can refer to:* Christie * Christie's, the auction house* Christie, California, in Contra Costa County* Christie, the Canadian division of Nabisco* Christie , subway station in Toronto, Ontario, Canada...
), soloist 1985. - "Jardin aux Lilas" (TudorAntony TudorAntony Tudor was an English ballet choreographer, teacher and dancer.-Biography:Tudor, born William Cook, discovered dance accidentally. He began dancing professionally with Marie Rambert in 1928, becoming general assistant for her Ballet Club the next year...
), Caroline 1985. - "Song of the Earth" (MacMillanKenneth MacMillanSir Kenneth MacMillan was a British ballet dancer and choreographer. He was artistic director of the Royal Ballet in London between 1970 and 1977.-Early years:...
), soloist 1985. - "La Sonnambula" (Balanchine - Ballet de Nancy), title role 1985.
- "Sonate à trois" (Béjart), soloist 1986
- "ManfredManfredManfred is a dramatic poem written in 1816–1817 by Lord Byron. It contains supernatural elements, in keeping with the popularity of the ghost story in England at the time. It is a typical example of a Romantic closet drama...
" (Nureyev), the countess 1986. - "CinderellaCinderella (Prokofiev)Cinderella is a ballet, Op. 87, composed by Sergei Prokofiev to a scenario by Nikolai Volkov. It is one of his most popular and melodious compositions, and has inspired a great many choreographers since its inception. The piece was composed between 1940 and 1944. Part way through writing it he...
" (Nureyev), title role 1986. - "Grosse Fugue" (van ManenHans van ManenHans van Manen is a Dutch ballet dancer, choreographer and photographer.He is a son of a German housemaid. He studied under Sonia Gaskell, Françoise Adret and Nora Kiss. Van Manen wrote many ballets. He worked for the Dutch National Ballet from 1973 to 1985. He was awarded the Erasmus Prize in...
), soloist 1986. - "ApolloApollo (ballet)Apollo is a ballet in two tableaux composed between 1927 and 1928 by Igor Stravinsky. It was choreographed by balletmaster George Balanchine in 1928, the composer contributing the libretto...
" (Balanchine), Terpsichore 1987. - "Symphony in Three MovementsSymphony in Three MovementsSymphony in Three Movements is a ballet made by New York City Ballet co-founder and balletmaster George Balanchine for opening night of its Stravinsky Festival to the composers's eponymous symphony from 1942–45, and lighting by Mark Stanley...
" (Balanchine), soloist 1987. - "Sans Armes Citoyens!" van DantzigRudi van DantzigRudi van Dantzig , is a Dutch choreographer, ballet dancer and writer. Since 1965 he has been co-artistic leader of Het Nationale Ballet . After Sonia Gaskell and his other colleague left in 1971, he was the only artistic leader until 1991...
, Woman of the people 1987. - "Magnificat Neumeier", soloist cr 1987.
- "Suite en blanc" (LifarSerge LifarSerge Lifar ; 15 December 1986) was a French ballet dancer and choreographer of Ukrainian origin, famous as one of the greatest male ballet dancers of the 20th century.-Biography:Lifar was born in Kiev, Ukraine, then part of the Russian Empire...
), soloist 1987. - "Four Last SongsFour Last SongsThe Four Last Songs for soprano and orchestra were the final completed works of Richard Strauss, composed in 1948 when the composer was 84. Strauss did not live to hear the premiere, given at the Royal Albert Hall in London on 22 May 1950 by the soprano Kirsten Flagstad accompanied by the...
" (van Dantzig), soloist 1987. - "Les anges ternis" (ArmitageKarole ArmitageKarole Armitage is an American dancer and choreographer currently based in New York City. She is Artistic Director of Armitage Gone! Dance, a contemporary ballet company that performs several times annually in New York City as well as touring internationally...
), soloist cr 1987. - "Etudes" (LanderMargot LanderMargot Ella Florentz Lander , a prima ballerina with the Royal Danish Ballet, was the most important Danish ballerina of the first half of the twentieth century....
), soloist 1988. - "In the Middle", Somewhat Elevated (ForsytheWilliam Forsythe (dancer)William Forsythe is an American dancer and choreographer resident in Frankfurt am Main in Hessen. He is known internationally for his work with the Ballett Frankfurt and The Forsythe Company...
), soloist 1988. - "Notre-Dame de ParisThe Hunchback of Notre DameThe Hunchback of Notre-Dame is a novel by Victor Hugo published in 1831. The French title refers to the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, on which the story is centered.-Background:...
" PetitRoland PetitRoland Petit was a French choreographer and dancer born in Villemomble, near Paris, France. He trained at the Paris Opéra Ballet school, and became well known for his creative ballets.-Biography:...
, EsmeraldaEsmeralda (The Hunchback of Notre Dame)Esmeralda, or La Esmeralda , born Agnes, is a fictional character in Victor Hugo's 1831 novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame . She is a French Gypsy girl...
1988. - "The Sleeping Beauty" (Nureyev after Petipa), princess Aurora 1989.
- "Les Présages" (Massine), soloist 1989.
- "In The Night" (RobbinsJerome RobbinsJerome Robbins was an American theater producer, director, and choreographer known primarily for Broadway Theater and Ballet/Dance, but who also occasionally directed films and directed/produced for television. His work has included everything from classical ballet to contemporary musical theater...
), soloist 1989. - "Le Fils prodigue" (Balanchine), the Siren 1989.
- "Sinfonietta" (KylianJiří KyliánJiří Kylián is a Czech dance choreographer.Kylián studied in Prague and, at the age of 20, won a scholarship at the Royal Ballet School in London. He joined the Stuttgart Ballet in 1968 and worked under John Cranko, where he began to choreograph. Kylián became Artistic Director of Nederlands Dans...
), soloist 1990. - "Les NocesLes Noces (Robbins)Les Noces is a ballet made by Jerome Robbins, subsequently New York City Ballet balletmaster, to Stravinsky's eponymous music from 1923 for American Ballet Theatre with sets by Oliver Smith under supervision of Rosaria Sinisi, costumes by Patricia Zipprodt and lighting by Jennifer Tipton. The...
" (Nijinska), the bride 1990. - "Variations" (S. Lifar), 1st variation 1990.
- "A Midsummer Night's DreamA Midsummer Night's Dream (ballet)A Midsummer Night's Dream is a two-act ballet choreographed by George Balanchine to Felix Mendelssohn's incidental music for Shakespeare's play of the same name. In addition to the incidental music, Balanchine incorporated other Mendelssohn works into the ballet including Overtures to Athalie, Son...
" (J. Neumeier), Titania 1991. - "Les BichesLes BichesLes biches is a ballet by Francis Poulenc, premiered by the Ballets Russes in 1924. The composer, who was at the time relatively unknown, was asked by Serge Diaghilev to write a piece based on Glazunov's Les Sylphides, written seventeen years earlier...
" (Nijinska), chanson dansée "la Garçonne " 1991. - "Glass Pieces" (Robbins), soloist 1991.
- "Dances at a Gathering" (J. Robbins), soloist 1991.
- "La dame aux camélias" (Neumeier - Hamburg BalletHamburg BalletHamburg Ballet, also known as the Hamburg State Opera Ballet, is an internationally acclaimed ballet company located in Hamburg, Germany. Since 1973 it is directed by the American dancer and choreographer John Neumeier....
), Marguerite 1992. - "La Bayadère" (Nureyev after Petipa), Gamzatti 1992.
- "Les forains" (Petit) 1993.
- "The NutcrackerThe NutcrackerThe Nutcracker is a two-act ballet, originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with a score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The libretto is adapted from E.T.A. Hoffmann's story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King". It was given its première at the Mariinsky Theatre in St...
" (Neumeier) 1993. - "Till EulenspiegelTill EulenspiegelTill Eulenspiegel was an impudent trickster figure originating in Middle Low German folklore. His tales were disseminated in popular printed editions narrating a string of lightly connected episodes that outlined his picaresque career, primarily in Germany, the Low Countries and France...
" (after Nijinski) 1994. - "La BayadèreLa BayadèreLa Bayadère is a ballet, originally staged in four acts and seven tableaux by French choreographer Marius Petipa to the music of Ludwig Minkus. La Bayadère was first performed by the Imperial Ballet at the Imperial Bolshoi Kamenny Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia, on...
" (Nureyev after Petipa), Nikiya 1995. - "Rhapsody" (AshtonFrederick AshtonSir Frederick William Mallandaine Ashton OM, CH, CBE was a leading international dancer and choreographer. He is most noted as the founder choreographer of The Royal Ballet in London, but also worked as a director and choreographer of opera, film and theatre revues.-Early life:Ashton was born at...
), soloist 1996. - "Allegro brillante" (Balanchine), soloist 1996.
- "Sylvia" (Neumeier), 1997
Prizes
- 1978 : Silver medal (Junior Prize) in the International Ballet Competition at Varna, Bulgaria.
- 1982: Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement of the Year in Ballet for her role in La SylphideLa SylphideLa Sylphide is one of the world's oldest surviving romantic ballets. There were two versions of the ballet; the version choreographed by the Danish balletmaster August Bournonville is the only version known to have survived....
- 1983: West End Theatres Award
- 1998: Prix Massine
- 1999: Benois de la DansePrix Benois de la DanseThe Benois de la Danse is one of the most prestigious ballet competition. Founded by the International Dance Association in Moscow in 1991, it takes place each year on or around April 29 and is jury-based in its judging...
Honours
- 1993 : Chevalier des Arts et LettresOrdre des Arts et des LettresThe Ordre des Arts et des Lettres is an Order of France, established on 2 May 1957 by the Minister of Culture, and confirmed as part of the Ordre national du Mérite by President Charles de Gaulle in 1963...
- 1998 : Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur