Issued on:
Top-of-the-line-known male dancers on the Paris Opera, who has gained a giant following exterior ballet for working as a decide on the French equal of “Strictly Come Dancing”, on Wednesday stop the corporate after months of pressure.
François Alu, 28, identified for his rugged physique and virtuoso leaps, will go away the Paris Opera so he has “full skilled freedom”, each events stated in a joint assertion printed by the opera.
The information was surprising, coming simply seven months after the Paris Opera named Alu an “étoile” (“star”), its highest-ranking title, after intense stress from ballet followers for the promotion.
However there has additionally been pressure over his extremely publicised function as a decide on “Danse avec les stars” (“Dance with the Stars”), the French equal of the smash hit BBC present in Britain “Strictly Come Dancing”.
“I’ve determined to regain my full skilled freedom so as to have the ability to totally realise my inventive aspirations,” Alu stated within the assertion.
The Paris Opera emphasised that the choice got here after a “dialogue” between the 2 sides and would permit “new types of collaboration” by Alu with the corporate.
Not precisely a shock: François Alu is leaving @BalletOParis. So his closing efficiency was additionally the evening he was promoted to Etoile earlier this yr. He has opted for freedom, though the door seems to be open for future collaborations as a visitor. https://t.co/fvSRS8vJ6J
— Laura Cappelle (@LauraCappelle) November 23, 2022
“This choice is the end result of the shut dialogue now we have had with François in current months, stated the Paris Opera director Alexander Neef.
Alu has additionally been touring France with a solo present. However to the chagrin of his followers he by no means danced on the Paris Opera since being named “étoile“, which is unprecedented.
His departure comes at a turbulent time for the Paris Opera ballet, with former dancer Jose Martinez in December set to take over from Aurélie Dupont as head of the corporate.
Such high-profile departures are comparatively uncommon with the final such instance in 1989 when famous person ballerina Sylvie Guillem walked out to concentrate on a world profession.
(AFP)
