October 2026, what a month for the European Ballet...

October 2026, what a month for the European Ballet...

In London, a „Centenary Celebration“ took place at the Royal Opera House (Covent Garden), a main event, celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Royal Ballet School. As the slogan from MGM would „say“: „More Stars than there are in Heaven“!

At the Opéra national de Paris, the dance season kicks off at the Palais Garnier!

On 10 October 2026, the Palais Garnier hosted the traditional opening gala of the Opéra de Paris dance season. This exceptional evening is one of the new season’s most eagerly awaited events. On stage, the Ballet Parade presented the entire Company: the Étoiles, the Premières Danseuses, the Premiers Danseurs and the Corps de Ballet de l'Opéra, as well as students from the École de Danse and the Junior Ballet. On the program: "Rings of Saturn", created by Juliano Nuñes, as well as "Vers un pays sage" by Jean-Christophe Maillot and "Busk" by Aszure Barton, both of which enter the Paris Opéra repertoire this season.

And the joyful farewell at the Paris Opera for star ballerina Dorothée Gilbert – something to be celebrated, cherished… An „Étoile“ that had the consistent dignity to leave the stage at the top of her career. And I am sure that she will not „get back in a few years“; because that is a decision based on intelligence, consideration and no „vanity“!

All of a sudden, I feel as if Vienna would be just a provincial „dépendance“. What is happening here, except for the “Première” (Which every “Balletomane” has already seen) from Neumeier’s “Nijinsky”?