Paris (AFP)
Paris Opera star dancers, relatives and crying fans said their last farewells to French dance star Patrick Dupond during his funeral in Paris on Thursday.
The former principal dancer, who was one of France's greatest classical dancers and whose popularity spread beyond the borders of ballet, died on March 5 from a devastating illness at the age of 61.
A procession of former stars, notably Elisabeth Platel, director of the Opera Dance School, Kader Belarbi, dance director of the Capitole de Toulouse, Marie-Claude Pietragalla or Marie-Agnès Gillot, but also of 'current dancers of the Opera, preceded the entry of the coffin covered with the tricolor flag in the church of Saint-Roch in Paris.
Members of the family of "Dance with the stars", a program on TF1 in which he was sworn, were also present.
"The dance world in mourning for having lost its most beautiful star", commented Marie-Claude Pietragalla, his partner on stage, during the funeral eulogies.
"We keep in precious memory your flights which seemed to never end, your rides which dazed the halls of the whole world, your pirouettes offered as gifts (...) you dazzled the eyes (...) raised the crowds like no one great artist, ”she said, very moved.
The broken voice, the current dance director and former star Aurélie Dupont also paid tribute to this "superstar" and this "absolute dancer".
Musicians such as cellist Gautier Capuçon and the duo Camille and Julie Berthollet, have played pieces, including "La Mort du Cygne" by Saint-Saëns.
Having inspired several male ballet dancers, the Opera's darling suffered a deep injury in 1997, when he left "home" after his dismissal.
He had accepted, without the agreement of his employer, to sit on the jury of the Cannes festival, and will be compensated in cassation.
In 2000, he was the victim of a serious car accident.
His body is broken by 134 fractures and the doctors tell him that he will no longer dance.
© 2021 AFP