At the Paris Opera, star dancers package before Swan Lake

Europe 1 with AFP 2:19 p.m., November 23, 2022

It's a bit like Benzema getting injured before the World Cup: the Paris Opera finds itself almost without any male stars for its

in December after dancers withdrew.

The venerable institution should distribute at least three "first dancers", the rank which precedes the supreme title of star, and a "subject" (two ranks before) for this ballet given to sold-out crowds from December 10 to January 1 at the Bastille Opera.

Of the six active male stars, four were programmed in the role of Siegried, the prince who in the famous ballet falls in love with Odette, a young princess transformed into a swan by the wizard Rothbart.

At least four male stars forfeited

But a few days ago, the star dancer Hugo Marchand, one of the stars of the company, announced on Instagram that he could no longer guarantee his dates, without giving any reason.

The Opera has confirmed that two other stars, Mathieu Ganio and Mathias Heymann, no longer appear in the distribution, without immediately specifying whether it was due to injuries.

A fourth star dancer, Germain Louvet, is distributed on contemporary, Pina Bausch's "Kontakthof" at the Palais Garnier, also scheduled for December.

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A post shared by Hugo Marchand (@humarchand)

As for François Alu, absent subscribers despite his nomination as a star in April, he is supposed to dance Rothbart when his new title should logically have allowed a distribution in the main role. 

had reported in October that the dancer, who is also a member of the jury of the program "Dancing with the stars" and who tours with his solo show, had not yet signed his star contract.

He had also reported rumors that the dancer demanded special freedom for his commitments outside the Opera.

Female roles maintained

On the

distribution , only the star Paul Marque remained.

The first dancers Jérémy-Loup Quer, Pablo Legasa and Marc Moreau are planned as replacements, as well as the young "subject" Guillaume Diop, propelled since last year into star roles.

The cast of female stars is maintained, with Valentine Colasante, Dorothée Gilbert, Myriam Ould-Braham and Ludmila Pagliero.

Swan Lake will

coincide with the arrival of José Martinez, recently appointed director of dance.

He had promised to be "listening" to the company of 154 dancers who have experienced turbulence in recent years under the brief mandate of Benjamin Millepied then that of Aurélie Dupont.