Early last year I interviewed Brigitte Lefèvre for Pointe Magazine, and asked the almighty Artistic Director of the Paris Opera Ballet how she went about casting the many works performed by the company. The article was published in the April/May 2009 issue of the magazine, but her answers are now also online on Pointe’s shiny new website, in the archives section:
Cover of the April/May 2009 issue © Pointe Magazine
How do you go about casting each program?
I am in charge of all the casting, but it is really a group effort: I work very closely with the chief ballet master Patrice Bart and the administrator Olivier Aldeano. I try to figure out which dancer is best for each type of choreography, and whether it would be interesting to give someone who has been cast in classical works a chance to venture into something different. I don’t want dancers to become specialized.
How does the hierarchy at POB affect casting?
It sets rules—it is a basis for mutual comprehension. It used to be very rigid, but I think we have succeeded in making it both present and very flexible. When Benjamin Millepied choreographed Triade last year, I didn’t hesitate to entrust a young dancer with one of the main roles. I remain very cautious though, because the company has many étoiles and it is my duty to cast them. Everyone wants to dance, obviously. (…)
» Read the full interview in Pointe Magazine: “Classical to Contemporary”, April/May 2009
