On 21 January, Madrid’s Teatro Real welcomes the Ballet de l’Opéra National de Paris for five performances over six days, as the dance company starts a year of celebrations to mark its 350th anniversary.
For their run in the Spanish capital, the dancers of the prestigious French company present a varied four-part programme that includes music by composers including Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel and J.S. Bach.
The choreographers behind this production are George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins and Hans Van Manen.
The Ballet de l’Opéra National de Paris was founded in 1669 and is the oldest national ballet company.
Today it’s regarded as one of the best in the world, alongside Moscow’s Bolshoi Ballet, the London Royal Ballet and the Mariinsky Ballet from Saint Petersburg.
In 1983, the iconic dancer Rudolf Nureyev was appointed director of the French company, and he in turn nominated Sylvie Guillem as principal dancer a year later, to create one of ballet’s most renowned partnerships.
When: 21, 23, 24, 26 January; 8pm except 26 January, 5pm, 9.30pm.
Where: Teatro Real, Madrid
More info: teatro-real.com