In 2008, José Martinez, principal dancer of Paris' Opera Ballet, choreographed his inaugural grand ballet, Les Enfants du Paradis.
The choreographer sought to evoke the Paris of yesteryear, specifically the city of the Boulevard du Crime from the first half of the 19th century, which was home to artists, theaters, and cabarets. In a staging evocative of a cinematic set, the mime Baptiste immerses himself in recollections, recounting his encounter with Garance, his profound and unattainable love for a woman of remarkable beauty, the enchanting realm of the stage, the world behind the scenes, and the precarious balance between reality and illusion maintained by performers. Marc-Oliver Dupin's original score provides the musical backdrop for a choreography alternating between larger ensemble numbers and intimate love duets.
Photo: © Michel Lidvac