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Agnes LetestuFrench ballerina
Country:
 France |
Content:
- Biography of Agnes Letestu
- Early Life and Career
- Rise to Stardom
- Repertoire and Achievements
- International Performances and Contributions
Biography of Agnes Letestu
Agnes Letestu, a French ballerina, is the recipient of several awards including the Carpeaux Society Prize (1991), the Audience Sympathies Prize from I'AROP (The Association of Friends of the Paris Opera) (1992), DANZA & DANZA - Best Couple award with Jose Martinez (1998), the Leonid Myasin Prize in Positano (2004), and the Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters and the Knight of the Order of Merit.
Early Life and Career
Agnes Letestu was born in Paris and joined the Paris Opera School in 1983. Under the direction of Rudolf Nureyev, she was accepted into the company in 1987 and rose through the ranks from a member of the corps de ballet to a soloist. She gained recognition by winning the gold medal at the Eurovision Competition for Young Dancers in 1989. In 1990, she received another gold medal at the International Ballet Artists Competition in Varna, Bulgaria.
Rise to Stardom
While continuing as a member of the corps de ballet, Letestu was chosen by renowned choreographers for lead roles, including Jerome Robbins in "In the Night" and "Dances at a Gathering," William Forsythe in "In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated," Roland Petit in "Le Jeune Homme et la Mort," and Nureyev in the role of Gamzatti in "La Bayadere." In 1993, she was promoted to the rank of first soloist and, in 1997, she became an étoile, the highest rank at the Paris Opera Ballet.
Repertoire and Achievements
Agnes Letestu's talent shone in her interpretations of major classical ballets such as "Swan Lake," "The Sleeping Beauty," "Raymonda," "Don Quixote," "La Bayadere," "Cinderella," and "Romeo and Juliet" (all choreographed by Nureyev). Her physique and style also suited the works of George Balanchine including "Serenade," "The Glass Palace," "Agon," "Capriccio," "Violin Concerto," "Apollo," "Theme and Variations," "Sylvia pas de deux," "Jewels," "Prodigal Son," "Symphony in C," and "Tchaikovsky pas de deux." Her classical repertoire also includes "Giselle," "Paquita," and "La Sylphide" (P. Lacotte), "Études" (H. Lander), "Grand Pas Classique" (V. Gsovsky), "Suite en Blanc" and "Mirages" (S. Lifar). She has also performed many significant contemporary works, such as "L'Arlesienne" (R. Petit), "Le Sacre du Printemps" (L. Myasin after V. Nijinsky), "Symphonietta" (J. Kylian), "Magnificat," "Vaslav," and "The Lady of the Camellias" (J. Neumeier), "Giselle" (Myrtha/Bathilde M. Ek), "Variations on a Theme by Ulysses" (J.-C. Gallotta), "Moonlight Sonata" (M. Graham), "Woundwork 1" (W. Forsythe), and "Non, Rien de Rien" (I. Favrie).
International Performances and Contributions
Agnes Letestu has also performed as a guest dancer with the National Ballet of Cuba, the Dutch National Ballet, the ballet companies of Nice, Florence, and the Mariinsky Theatre. She has also danced with the Royal Danish Ballet and the Hamburg Ballet. Her performances have been recorded and broadcasted on television for ballet films such as "Paquita," "Swan Lake," "Prodigal Son," "Diamonds," and soon to be released "Swan Lake." Letestu has also designed costumes for several ballets choreographed by Jose Martinez and Samuel Murez.
