Laurent Hilaire

Laurent Hilaire
Born (1962-11-08) November 8, 1962
France
Occupation ballet dancer, ballet master, associate artistic director
Years active 1979–present

Laurent Hilaire (born November 8, 1962) is a French ballet dancer. Regarded as one of the greatest dancers to emerge from ballet over the past few decades, he was an etoile (principal dancer) of the Paris Opera Ballet for 22 years. From 2011 he was the associate artistic director of the Paris Opera Ballet and a ballet master with the company since 2005[1]

Career

Hilaire joined the Paris Opera Ballet school in 1975 and entered the company's corps de ballet in 1979, aged 17.[2] On November 2, 1985, he was promoted to etoile (a top-billing principal dancer) by Rudolf Nureyev after a performance of Swan Lake.[3]

Laurent Hilaire became a ballet master with the company in 2005, occasionally performing as an etoile until he made his farewell performance on February 14, 2007. For it he performed George Balanchine's Apollo and Maurice Bejart's Song of A Wayfarer, in which he was partnered by Manuel Legris. After his farewell performance Hilaire was awarded Commander of Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, the highest rank of the order.[4]

Notable awards

Officer of Ordre des Arts et des Lettres 1998[5]
Male Dancer, Benois de la Danse 2004[6]
Chevalier of Legion of Honour 2004
Commander of Ordre des Arts et des Lettres 2007[7]
Lifetime Achievement, Benois de la Danse 2007[8]

References

  1. ↑ . Laurence Liban (February 7, 2011). "Laurent Hilaire, maître des étoiles". L'Express.
  2. ↑ L'Express. "Laurent Hilaire Biographie".
  3. ↑ Rudolf Nureyev Foundation. "Etoiles nominated by Rudolf Nureyev".
  4. ↑ French Ministry of Culture and Communication. "Remise des insignes de Commandeur dans l'ordre des Arts et des Lettres à Laurent Hilaire".
  5. ↑ Benois de la Danse. "Laurent Hilaire".
  6. ↑ Benois de la Danse. "Benois de la danse: 2004".
  7. ↑ French Ministry of Culture and Communication. "Remise des insignes de Commandeur dans l'ordre des Arts et des Lettres à Laurent Hilaire".
  8. ↑ Benois de la Danse. "Benois de la danse: 2007".
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