Bleuenn Battistoni has jumped all the ballet obstacles The poorly guarded girl, by Frederick Ashton. She churned the butter, played with the gift packages, wrapped her ribbons in roses, tried to get her mother, Simone, drunk to join her lover Colas… In short, she had fun smiling at the technical difficulties of a show more complex than it was. seems to be there to make the audience laugh. And she hit the jackpot. Tuesday March 26, at the end of the performance at the Palais Garnier, Bleuenn Battistoni, 25, was named star of the Paris National Opera in the role of Lise by Alexander Neef, director of the house, on the recommendation of the dance director, José Martinez. She thus becomes the tenth female star of the Parisian institution – Myriam Ould-Braham was also crowned star for her performance in The poorly guarded girl, in 2012.
Nothing surprising from Bleuenn Battistoni, who had already created a surprise, on July 13, 2022, during Alice Renavand’s farewell evening. Injured, the star had to be replaced almost instantly by Battistoni taking her place as in a mirage. A change of person so delicately carried out that many spectators saw nothing but fire: Battistoni, who had wanted to dance since childhood Giselle, had, moreover, sumptuously interpreted the second act in suspension. Poles apart, The poorly guarded girlwhich she rehearsed at the Royal Ballet in London and danced alongside Marcelino Sambé, performer of the London company, provided proof of her technical potential mounted on springs and her talent as a comic actress.
Adaptability
Born in 1999 in Lyon, she took her first lessons at the age of 4. She then moved to Paris and joined the Paris National Conservatory of Music and Dance in 2013, before entering, a year later, the Paris National Opera school, where she refined her skills. She joined the corps de ballet in 2017 and climbed the ranks, reaching the position of principal dancer in November 2022. Her ability to adapt allows her to take on various styles, from the high-tension classic of Rudolf Nureyev (1938- 1993) to the dry and explosive writing of William Forsythe, through the rooted contemporary of Crystal Pite, Bleuenn Battistoni seems to delight in everything.
Imposing your temperament in the role of Lise is no easy task. Burlesque is not often found in academic works, and when it innervates for two hours a piece dating from 1789 and taking place in the countryside, on a farm, it is necessary to develop a fiber that is both everyday and facetious to succeed in asserting her desire for Colas, while remaining tender with her mother, Simone, who prevents her from loving in circles. “I enjoyed getting out of my comfort zone to dance Lise and offer my interpretation of the comic scenes, she confides. My partner Marcelino Sambé brought me a lot of energy to build the character. »
You have 14.83% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.
