Paris Opera Junior Ballet: The foam of modern classic dance comes to Athens Concert Hall
A rare opportunity for the Greek public to enjoy, at world premiere, four top worldwide choreography works with eighteen (18) one of the best young dancers in the world on stage, directly from Paris Opera, under the direction of José Martinez, the artist!
The Paris Opera Junior Ballet features for the first time to the public of Athens and in the world first a unique program, enriched with works by the classic repertoire and contemporary dance creation.
The Paris Opera Ballet, a cradle of classic dance, maintains a tradition of excellence for more than three centuries, based on the preservation and dissemination of its classic repertoire but also on the commitment to the creation of new works.
« The creation of the Junior Ballet reflects the desire of the Paris opera to be in constant evolution, proposing innovative forms of creation, education and transmission, while maintaining the legacy of the institution. Junior Ballet aims to develop a close relationship with the public through home performances, both in France and abroad. «
– Alexander Neef, General Manager of Paris Opera
The performances will be organized by the humanitarian organization Lifeline Hellas in collaboration with Visionary Culture under the auspices of the French Embassy in Greece, the Greek -French Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the ABY Princess Catherine, founder of Lifeline.
The purpose of these distinctive performances is to continue the project of offering modern incubator at Children’s Hospitals « Agia Sophia » and « P. & A. Kyriakou ‘, which has been conducting Lifeline Hellas for three years in the state hospitals of Greece.
It is worth noting that Chanel is the Founding Patron of the Paris Opera Junior Ballet Dance Team. More than eighty guests of the famous house will travel specially to Athens from all over the world to attend the world premiere at the Athens Concert Hall!
PROGRAM
Allegro Brillante
Choreography: George Balanchine | Music: Piotr Ilyitch Tchaïkovski
Costumes: Barbara Karinska
Duration 16 ′ – for 10 dancers
Cantate 51
Choreography: Maurice Béjart | Music: Jean-Sébastian Bach
Costumes: Joëlle Roustan, Roger Bernard
Duration 21 ′ – for 8 dancers
Requiem for a rose
Choreography: Anabelle Lopez Ochoa | Music: Franz Schubert
Duration 20 ′ – for 13 dancers
Mi favorita
Choreography: José Martinez | Music: Gaetano Donizetti
Costumes: Agnès Letstu
Duration 28 ′ – for 18 dancers
Jose Martinez
Artistic Director of Paris Opera
Short resume
José Martinez was born in 1969 in Carthage, Spain. He began his studies at his home country and continued at the Rosella Hightower Center in Cannes. In 1987 he won a scholarship to the Prix de Lausanne competition and was admitted to the Paris Opera Ballet School. In 1988 he joined the Corps de Ballet of the opera, where he rapidly climbed into the levels and in 1997 he was declared « Danseur étoile ».
He stood out in emblematic roles of both classic and modern repertoire, collaborating with leading choreographers such as Mats EK, William Forsythe, Pina Bausch and John Neumeier. She danced works by Balanchine, Béjart, Nureyev, Macmillan and many others.
As a choreographer, he created works for the Paris opera, the ballet school, as well as international scenes such as the ballet of Shanghai, Boston, Rome and Vienna. Among his works are Mi Favorita, Les Enfants du Paradis, Marco Polo and Le Corsaire.
From 2011 to 2019 she was the artistic director of the Spanish National Ballet Opera, renewing her repertoire with a dynamic combination of classic and contemporary works and giving space to young Spanish artists.
In October 2022, he was appointed Manager of the Paris Opera Dance, succeeding Aurélie Dupont. He officially assumed his duties in December of that year.
A few words about the story of Paris Opera Ballet
The Paris Opera Ballet, a cradle of classic dance, maintains a tradition of excellence for more than three centuries, based on the preservation and dissemination of its classic repertoire but also on the commitment to the creation of new works.
The principles and rules of choreographic technique, introduced by Italy and Queen Catherine of the Medici in the 16th century, were formed and perfected with patience in the courtyard ballets and later during the reign of Ludovic ID. The « King of the Sun », wishing to transform the noble style into real stage art, founded the Académie Royale de Danse in 1661 and then the Académie D’Opéra in 1669, which in 1669 was renamed the ACadémie D’Péra. Musique) – The original name of the Paris Opera – with the first professional dancer in Europe. Since then, the opera ballet has continued to evolve.
Today, the opera ballet has 154 dancers, most of whom come from the ballet school founded in 1713, again at the initiative of King Louis Louis. The dancers are part of the group via competition, depending on the number of seats available, and start as Quadrilles, before rising to the higher levels: Coryphées, Sujets and First Dancing Danseurs. The dancers with the title (étoile) are appointed by the Director General, on the proposal of the dance director.
The Paris Opera
With a remarkable story extending over more than 350 years, the Paris opera is worldwide for its high quality and wide range of its producers in Palai Garnier and Bastille Opera, as well as the unique architecture of its two theaters. With more than 400 performances a year, the Paris opera offers a rich ballet, operas and concert program, as well as a special program for the youth audience, welcoming about 900,000 spectators a year. At the same time, she trains the younger generations of artists, dancers, lyric singers and musicians, thanks to her academy, ballet school and her new junior ballet.
Ticket sale
Paris Opera Junior Ballet
World premiere
Tuesday 27 and Wednesday 28 May 2025
GREAT MUSIC ATHENS
20:00 Hall A. Triandis
Ticket prices are:
A zone: 65 euros
B Zone: 58 euros
C Zone: 48 euros
Zone: 38 euros
Bone: 28 euros
Distinguished: 100 euros
& 150 euros
By participating in the cocktail on the evening of the premiere 27/5
Ticket sale HERE
For the VIP tickets of the Premiere please, please contact Lifeline Hellas 2109828002, 6943902264, [email protected]
The work of Lifeline Hellas
Lifeline Hellas has offered medical equipment totaling more than three million euros to Greece’s state hospitals in recent years. In particular, he focuses his work on supporting newborns, offering critical medical equipment such as incubators and specialized machines that are vital to their intensive care. Through these actions, it helps to strengthen public hospitals in the country, providing the means necessary to save the most vulnerable patients. With a steady commitment to life and hope, Lifeline Hellas invests in the future, starting with the most valuable moment, the first breath.
