Celebrities present at the Paris Opera Gala

On Friday, the opening gala of the Paris Opera’s dance season took place at the Palais Garnier. Under the direction of Aurélie Dupont, Director of Dance, this long-awaited event, which took place last year, due to the pandemic, only in a digital form, allowed the public to rediscover the ritual Défilé du Ballet bringing together on stage the Étoiles, the Premiers danseurs, the Corps de Ballet and the students of the Paris Opera Ballet School. Two contemporary pieces, which had been broadcast via Facebook live in 2020 during the lockdown, then took place on the stage. Clouds Inside by the very young American choreographer Tess Voelker, opened a window on the future of creation. While Damien Jalet’s Brise Lames allowed the public to reconnect with this Franco-Belgian choreographer who proposed, through this theme, a contemporary metaphor for resilience.

As a patron of the Paris Opera Ballet, Chanel made the tiaras and tutus worn by the Etoiles femmes during the show with the help of the Lesage embroidery workshops, and invited celebrities to attend this exceptional performance. Rolex, the Paris Opera’s watchmaker, once again this year supported the two opening Galas of the Paris Opera’s season – where the new music director, Gustavo Dudamel, inaugurated his first season on Wednesday 22 September.