Extreme apologies for taking forever to upload these pictures. Lucky me - I managed to get tickets of Aurelie Dupont’s farewell performance of Manon at the Opera Garnier the DAY BEFORE the performance (they were limited visibility seats, but, not complaining). This was my first, and unfortunately probably last, time seeing her perform in person. She asked Roberto Bolle to be her special guest partner for her final show. It was magnificent. There was a standing ovation of at least 20 minutes, and she was joined on stage by her 2 sons, her husband, and various other dancers current and retired who all presented her with flowers. Her sons wouldn’t stop playing with the confetti that was raining down gently from the stage. At the beginning of her final bow, when she was alone on stage by herself, she took one of the star shaped confettis, licked it, and stuck it to her chest. An étoile through and through.
Aurélie Dupont et Nicolas Le Riche pendant une représentation du Parc de Prejlocaj à l’Opéra Garnier. Photo by Pierre-Elie de Pibrac
Paris Opera Ballet dancers rehearsing Onegin, by Pierre-Elie de Pibrac
Photographer Pierre-Elie de Pibrac followed around dancers and etoiles from the Paris Opera Ballet for a year, including the transition time from Brigitte LeFevre to Benjamin Millepied. He has a photo exhibit in Paris right now.