Claude Bessy (dancer)
Encyclopedia
Claude Bessy is a French ballerina, ballet master
of the Paris Opera Ballet
(1970-1971) and director of the Paris Opera Ballet School
(1972–2004).
Mlle. Bessy trained at the Paris Opera Ballet School from the age of ten, the youngest student ever admitted, and joined the Paris Opera Ballet at age 13, the youngest danseuse ever admitted. In 1956 she was promoted to étoile
, the Ballet's highest rank. Bessy was closely associated with Serge Lifar
and created leading roles in his 1951 Snow White, 1955 Noces fantastiques and 1958 Daphnis and Chloe. She worked with John Cranko
, who made his 1955 La Belle Hêlène on her, and George Skibine
, who made a second Daphnis and Chloe on Bessy in 1959.
Bessy was featured in Gene Kelly
's film Invitation to the Dance
(1956), and four years later he created Pas de deux at the Paris Opera for her. She also made many television appearances. Bessy has staged ballets for the Comédie Française and Opéra Comique
, dances for the musical My Fair Lady
(1984) and continues to stage the ballets of Lifar throughout Europe.
As director of the Paris Opera Ballet School
she introduced deep reforms to the teatching which lead to the birth of a new generation of highly technical dancers like Sylvie Guillem
, Patrick Dupond, Élisabeth Platel
, Marie-Claude Pietragalla
, etc... and obtained the construction of a new school building in Nanterre
inaugurated in 1987.
Ballet Master
Ballet Master is the term used for an employee of a ballet company who is responsible for the level of competence of the dancers in their company...
of the Paris Opera Ballet
Paris Opera Ballet
The Paris Opera Ballet is the oldest national ballet company in the world, and many European and international ballet companies can trace their origins to it...
(1970-1971) and director of the Paris Opera Ballet School
Paris Opera Ballet
The Paris Opera Ballet is the oldest national ballet company in the world, and many European and international ballet companies can trace their origins to it...
(1972–2004).
Mlle. Bessy trained at the Paris Opera Ballet School from the age of ten, the youngest student ever admitted, and joined the Paris Opera Ballet at age 13, the youngest danseuse ever admitted. In 1956 she was promoted to étoile
Étoile
- Places and Geography :* Place de l'Étoile, a.k.a. Place Charles de Gaulle, a large road junction in Paris, where the Arc de Triomphe is located* Charles de Gaulle - Étoile, a station of the Paris Métro* Massif de l'Étoile, a mountain range north of Marseille...
, the Ballet's highest rank. Bessy was closely associated with Serge Lifar
Serge Lifar
Serge Lifar ; 15 December 1986) was a French ballet dancer and choreographer of Ukrainian origin, famous as one of the greatest male ballet dancers of the 20th century.-Biography:Lifar was born in Kiev, Ukraine, then part of the Russian Empire...
and created leading roles in his 1951 Snow White, 1955 Noces fantastiques and 1958 Daphnis and Chloe. She worked with John Cranko
John Cranko
John Cyril Cranko was a choreographer with the Sadler's Wells Ballet and the Stuttgart Ballet....
, who made his 1955 La Belle Hêlène on her, and George Skibine
George Skibine
George Skibine , was a ballet dancer with the Ballets Russes from age 5, son of Boris Skibine, also of the Ballets Russes, choreographer and balletmaster of the Harkness and Dallas Ballets.- Obituaries :* , January 16th, 1981...
, who made a second Daphnis and Chloe on Bessy in 1959.
Bessy was featured in Gene Kelly
Gene Kelly
Eugene Curran "Gene" Kelly was an American dancer, actor, singer, film director and producer, and choreographer...
's film Invitation to the Dance
Invitation to the Dance
Invitation to the Dance is the debut major release by the disbanded nu metal band 40 Below Summer. The album was released on October 16, 2001 via London-Sire Records...
(1956), and four years later he created Pas de deux at the Paris Opera for her. She also made many television appearances. Bessy has staged ballets for the Comédie Française and Opéra Comique
Opera Comique
The Opera Comique was a 19th-century theatre constructed in Westminster, London, between Wych Street and Holywell Street with entrances on the East Strand. It opened in 1870 and was demolished in 1902, to make way for the construction of the Aldwych and Kingsway...
, dances for the musical My Fair Lady
My Fair Lady
My Fair Lady is a musical based upon George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion and with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe...
(1984) and continues to stage the ballets of Lifar throughout Europe.
As director of the Paris Opera Ballet School
Paris Opera Ballet
The Paris Opera Ballet is the oldest national ballet company in the world, and many European and international ballet companies can trace their origins to it...
she introduced deep reforms to the teatching which lead to the birth of a new generation of highly technical dancers like Sylvie Guillem
Sylvie Guillem
Sylvie Guillem CBE is a French ballet dancer. She was the top-ranking female dancer with the Paris Opera Ballet from 1984 to 1989, before becoming a principal guest artist with the Royal Ballet in London. She is currently performing contemporary dance as an Associate Artist of London's Sadler's...
, Patrick Dupond, Élisabeth Platel
Élisabeth Platel
Élisabeth Platel is a French ballet dancer, born in Paris on 10 April 1959.-Career:After studying at the conservatoire in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, she entered the Conservatoire de Paris in 1971, graduating with First Prize, which allowed her to complete her studies at the École de Danse de l'Opéra...
, Marie-Claude Pietragalla
Marie-Claude Pietragalla
Marie-Claude Pietragalla is a French dancer and choreographer born in Paris the 2 February 1963.-Biography:At 16, she joined the Ballet de l'Opera National de Paris and was named étoile December 22, 1990, after the performance of Don Quixote in which she played the role of Kitri...
, etc... and obtained the construction of a new school building in Nanterre
Nanterre
Nanterre is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located west of the center of Paris.Nanterre is the capital of the Hauts-de-Seine department as well as the seat of the Arrondissement of Nanterre....
inaugurated in 1987.
Honors
- Pavlova Prize (1961)
- Légion d'honneurLégion d'honneurThe Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
(1972).
External links
- NY Times, Anna KisselgoffAnna KisselgoffAnna Kisselgoff is a dance critic and cultural news reporter for the New York Times. She began at the Times as a dance critic and cultural news reporter in 1968, and became its Chief Dance Critic in 1977, a role she held until 2005...
, June 16th, 1987