An era in ballet has come to a close. Jean-Pierre Bonnefous, once a star of the Paris Opera and a key figure in the neoclassical ballet world, has passed away peacefully in the United States at the age of 82.
Renowned star dancer Jean-Pierre Bonnefous, celebrated for his performances in major neoclassical ballets, has died in the United States, where he spent most of his career, his family and the Paris Opera announced on Wednesday.
“He passed away peacefully at the age of 82 in Charlottesville, Virginia,” his nephew Jérémy Bouhy told AFP.
Born in 1943 in Bourg-en-Bresse, France, Bonnefous trained at the Paris Opera Ballet School before joining the company in 1959.
“He was named danseur étoile (star dancer) in 1965,” the institution said in a statement, praising him as “a great dancer and teacher.”
Bonnefous performed in numerous works from the classical and neoclassical repertoire, including several pieces by George Balanchine, one of the key figures in neoclassical ballet. He also garnered acclaim for his performances in new creations by Maurice Béjart, the Opera added.
A close friend of Rudolf Nureyev, Bonnefous was invited by the legendary dancer to perform at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, according to his nephew.
In 1970, George Balanchine recruited him as a soloist for the New York City Ballet, where Bonnefous danced in many of Balanchine’s works, as well as ballets by Jerome Robbins.
He retired from the stage in 1980 and later, alongside his wife, dancer Patricia McBride, led the dance department at the University of Indianapolis.
In 1996, the couple was appointed artistic directors of the North Carolina Dance Theater, the Paris Opera noted.
Bonnefous stepped down from his position in 2017.
Beyond the stage, Bonnefous had a few screen appearances, including a minor role in Les Diaboliques (Henri-Georges Clouzot, 1955).
In 1966, he also appeared in the television series L’Âge heureux, which portrayed the lives of young dancers at the Palais Garnier.
With AFP
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