Europe 1 with AFP 2:33 p.m., November 23, 2022

This Wednesday, the Paris Opera announced that the star François Alu was leaving the institution, only seven months after his nomination for the supreme title of star, and without having danced the slightest role after obtaining this title.

The dancer is one of the few to be known to the public, in particular because of his presence in "Dancing with the Stars".

The Paris Opera announced on Wednesday the surprise departure of one of its star dancers, the star François Alu, who affirms in a joint press release that he has decided to resume his "full professional freedom".

Barely seven months after his nomination for the supreme title of star, François Alu, who is also a sworn in the program "Dance with the stars", "will soon leave the Ballet" of the Opera, indicated for his part the director General of the institution Alexander Neef, specifying that it was "the culmination (of) a close dialogue".

Only five male stars at the Paris Opera

"I have decided to regain my full professional freedom in order to be able to fully realize my artistic aspirations," said the dancer, often described as a "rebel" in the company, in the press release.

To absent subscribers despite his appointment in April, the 28-year-old dancer – one of the few to be known to the general public thanks to DALS – had been the subject of many rumors linked to his absence on stage this fall.

He recently missed the opportunity to dance in the ballet "Mayerling" which gives pride of place to the main dancer.

#Communiqué


Departure of the dancer Étoile François Alu from the Paris Opera Ballet.https://t.co/N0LBYjuAtH

— Ballet Opera Paris (@BalletOParis) November 23, 2022

In the press release, the Opera specifies that it was withdrawn from the distribution of

Swan Lake

in December.

This is the first time that a star has left the prestigious company without having danced the slightest role after having reached the supreme title.

The number of male stars at the Opera, which already shows an imbalance with female stars, is reduced to five, for a company of 154 dancers.

The two parties have not ruled out possible “future collaborations”, Mr. Neef specifying that it will be up to the new director of Dance, José Martinez, who will take office on December 5, 2022, to discuss with the dancer.

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Virtuoso, darling of the audience of the Ballet de l'Opéra who nicknamed him "alu-cinant--, François Alu, 28, joined the company in 2010 and, in four years, has experienced a meteoric rise, rising to the rank of " first dancer", preceding the title of star. His fans had been indignant for many years not to see him reach the supreme title and to be little distributed. On Wednesday, some evoked a feeling of "waste". The time a star left the company with a bang dates back to 1989, when the legendary Sylvie Guillem left to pursue an international career.