Dancers shine in Paris Opera Ballet's contemporary program

Roxane Stojanov and Loup Marcault-Derouard were central figures in the Paris Opera Ballet's contemporary program, Paysages intérieurs, which featured works by Jean-Christophe Maillot, William Forsythe, and Aszure Barton. The program included a new piece by Maillot titled Vers un pays sage, created in 1995 as a tribute to his father, the painter Jean Maillot.

Maillot's tribute to his father

Vers un pays sage was set to John Adams' Fearful Symmetries and noted for its fast, technical, and risky style. The backdrops used vivid flat colors also seen in Jean Maillot's last exhibition titled Pays Sage. Roxane Stojanov was particularly praised for her energy, virtuosity, and line, drawing comparisons to Bernice Coppieters, who was a muse for Maillot and helped create the piece.

Revival of Forsythe's "Rearray"

The program also included a revival of William Forsythe's Rearray, which was completely reworked and revised in 2024. The trio format allowed for showcasing the complexity of Forsythe's choreography, with Roxane Stojanov, Loup Marcault-Derouard, and Takeru Coste noted for their instinctive connection and understanding of the piece.

Aszure Barton's mysterious "BUSK"

The final piece, BUSK by Aszure Barton, was inspired by "busking," the art of public performance. Dancers were concealed behind large black hoods and oversized jogging suits, and the performance featured a complex, physical vocabulary set to gypsy or choral music. The staging was described as efficient and dark, with a striking collective effect.

Pre-performance parade and musical highlight

The evening was preceded by a parade of the Paris Opera Ballet, starting from the Dance Foyer to the back of the stage. The event involved all dancers from the company, the Junior Ballet, and students from the Nanterre dance school. The famous March excerpt from Hector Berlioz's Les Troyens was performed for the first time by ADO, the lyrical orchestra of young musicians from the Paris Opera, under the musical direction of Alizé Léhon.