24 Facts About Patrick Dupond

Patrick Dupond was a French ballet dancer and artistic director.

Patrick Dupond made a name for himself in 1976 when he won the gold medal at the Varna International Ballet Competition in Bulgaria.

Patrick Dupond worked with eminent dancers such as Rudolf Nureyev, Maurice Bejart and Alvin Ailey, and in 1990 he became dance director of the Paris Opera Ballet, succeeding Nureyev.

Patrick Dupond left this position in 1995, then the Paris Opera in 1997, dismissed, in his words, for "his insubordination and indiscipline".

Patrick Dupond spent a simple and modest childhood with his mother and her partner.

Patrick Dupond discovered his vocation by watching a ballet class, and his mother enrolled him in a dance class.

Patrick Dupond's abilities were quickly noticed, and his dance teacher advised him to take classes at a higher level.

Patrick Dupond was admitted to the Paris Opera Ballet in 1969, at the age of ten, for the three-month preparation course.

Patrick Dupond then passed the entrance test to the dance school and did all his training as a classical dancer there, while continuing to take private lessons with Bozzoni every evening.

Patrick Dupond was a pupil at the lycee Racine in Paris.

On 14 March 1975, Dupond became a member of the Paris Opera Ballet, at age 16.

Patrick Dupond won the gold medal at the Varna International Ballet Competition in Bulgaria, with Albrecht's variation from the second act of Giselle and Siegfried's variation from the third act of Swan Lake, the solo from the Lander's Etudes, Basilio's variation from Don Quixote, a variation from Le Corsaire, and finally a contemporary choreography created by him.

Patrick Dupond created various title roles and continued his training as a soloist.

Patrick Dupond had the opportunity to dance both at the Opera and on international stages.

Patrick Dupond then danced for choreographers such as Rudolf Nureyev, Alvin Ailey and Maurice Bejart.

Patrick Dupond was named danseur etoile, the highest rank in the company, on 30 August 1980, at age 21.

Patrick Dupond was appointed artistic director of the Ballet de Lorraine in 1988.

Patrick Dupond's absence was not accepted by the general management of the Paris Opera, who thanked him.

Patrick Dupond was nevertheless offered a contract as a guest danseur etoile, a proposal he refused, preferring to go to court.

Patrick Dupond went through a period of depression and alcoholism, from which he eventually recovered.

Patrick Dupond then resumed his training with the help of his teacher Max Bozzoni.

Patrick Dupond returned to the stage in a musical theatre in 2000: L'air de Paris at the Espace Pierre Cardin, with Manon Landowski as his partner.

Patrick Dupond died on 5 March 2021, a few days before his 62nd birthday, as a result of a "devastating illness", according to those close to him.

Patrick Dupond wrote an autobiography titled Etoile and published by Fayard in 2000.