Guillaume Diop’s nomination was announced on the stage of the LG Arts Center in Seoul, South Korea, where the dancer received an ovation after performing the role of Albrecht for the second time in the romantic ballet Giselle, by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot, with prima ballerina Dorothée Gilbert as a partner. The Paris Opera named the 23-year-old Métis hopeful, who was one of the five authors of the manifesto “From the racial question at the Opera”, written in 2020 in the wake of the movement, a star.
Rarely, he was promoted to “subject” at the end of the November 2022 competition, and reached the title of star without going through the “first dancer” box, like a handful of predecessors, including Laurent Hilaire in 1985, Manuel Legris in 1986 or Mathieu Ganio in 2004. His nomination comes just over a week after those of New Zealander Hannah O’Neill and Frenchman Marc Moreau, after a performance of Imperial Ballet of George Balanchine in Paris.
It was announced by delegation from Alexander Neef, the general director of the Paris Opera, absent in Seoul, on the proposal of the director of dance, the Spaniard José Martinez, appointed in 2022 to replace Aurélie Dupont.
“I made these three nominations in a very short time to send a message to dancers, young and old, big or small” and “to make them understand the importance of being in the job”, explained to Figaro José Martinez. “There are still three positions for men to fill and two for women, with more to come in the next two years,” he said.
Asked about the appointment of Guillaume Diop, José Martinez assured that “at no time did it cross my mind to appoint him because of the color of his skin”. “I didn’t expect it at all,” reacted the new star in the same newspaper. “I hope this will reassure parents of children who like me want to pursue this career, but I’m not sure I want to talk about it. Basically, I worked like everyone else,” he insisted.
Enlisted in the corps de ballet in 2018, Guillaume Diop has already been given several star roles, dancing the male leads in La Bayadère, Don Quichotte, Swan Lake and Romeo and Juliet. Introduced to dance at the age of 4 before beginning his apprenticeship in 2008 at the conservatory of the 18th arrondissement of Paris, he will be performing Chant du Compagnon Errant by Maurice Béjart at the Opéra Bastille between April 21 and May 28.
