Illustrative photo of the Lyon Opera. - XAVIER VILA / SIPA

  • Sentenced in December for discrimination, the director of the ballet of the Opéra de Lyon Yorgos Loukos has just been dismissed.
  • Yorgos Loukos would have asked in 2014 not to renew the contract of a dancer on her return from maternity leave.
  • This outcome is symbolic of languages ​​loosening more and more in the very reserved world of classical dance, and this since the #MeToo movement.

Yorgos Loukos is officially no longer at the head of the Lyon Opera ballet. An extraordinary board of directors of the Lyon cultural structure has just voted unanimously in favor of the dismissal of Yorgos Loukos. At the head of the ballet of this ballet since 1991, it had been condemned in December on appeal for discrimination.

And this for having requested the non-renewal of the contract of a dancer on her return from maternity leave. In addition to a suspended fine of 1,500 euros and 5,000 euros in damages to pay to this former dancer, Yorgos Loukos (67 years) therefore lost his job two months later, as claimed by the union of professional artists, SNAM- CGT.

Ballet director of the Opéra de Lyon sentenced for discrimination https://t.co/NrktaYgH2i

- 20 Minutes (@ 20Minutes) December 11, 2019

Languages ​​untie in the world of classical dance

The facts go back to 2014, when Karline Marion (34) has been on a CDD at the Opéra de Lyon for five years, at a crucial moment when her contract will be requalified as a CDI in the event of a sixth renewal. But two days after her return from maternity leave, a letter told her that she would not be renewed. The director of the ballet explains his decision to the city of Lyon by evoking "a physical and stylistic weakness" and "a too classic style", for a dancer who spent part of her career at the Béjart ballet.

During an interview a few days later, recorded by Karline Marion, Yorgos Loukos explains: "If between 29 and 34 years old, you did not hurt, but not much, it is not between 35 and 40 years that you will do more, more with a child ”. In the very reserved world of classical dance, languages ​​are loosening since the #MeToo movement and cases of discrimination and sexual and moral harassment are exposed and sanctioned.

Justice

Lyon: Director of the Opera ballet sentenced for discrimination

Culture

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  • Society
  • Lyon
  • Maternity leave
  • Culture
  • Dance
  • Discrimination
  • Opera