Marie-Agnes Gillot and Hugo Marchand in Signes

Marie-Agnes Gillot and Hugo Marchand (Paris Opera Ballet) in Signes, music by René Aubry, choreography by Caroline Carlson. Benois de la Danse 2017, Brilliant Quarter of Century, shot in the Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow on 31.5.2017.

Here you can find all galleries from Benois de la Danse 2017 Brilliant Quarter of Century gala

Here you can find all galleries from Benois de la Danse 2017 Brilliant Quarter of Century gala

Marie-Agnès Gillot, born in 1975 in Caen is an étoile with the Paris Opera Ballet, a French ballet dancer and choreographer. The daughter of an accountant and a physical therapist, until starting at the Paris Opera Ballet School at age nine, she lived in Caen. She entered the company at age 15. In 1994, she was promoted to the rank of “sujet,” or soloist. “I had a long wait, another five years, to become “Premiere Danseuse”, even though I was dancing all the principal roles. And then a long wait to be made an étoile, five years after that. It has never been easy for me”. She became principal dancer – “étoile” in 2004 after dancing “Signes”. “It’s the first time an étoile has been nominated after dancing a contemporary ballet. I think many people were surprised as modern works are generally considered less important than the classics, although they now represent half the repertoire of the company.” She is the first female in-house choreographer to receive a commission from the Paris Opera Ballet.

Hugo Marchand is currently a Premier with Paris Opera Ballet. Hugo is trained by the Paris Opera Ballet School (2007-2011), in 2011 joined the Corps de Ballet at Paris Opera, 2014 became Coryphée, 2015 Sujet, Cercle Carpeaux Award. 2017 Benois de la Danse award as best male dancer.

Photos by Jack Devant Ballet Photography with kind permission of the Benois de la Danse and Bolshoi Theatre, special thanks to Nina Kudriavtseva-Loory and Regina Nikiforova.