Agnès Letestu (born 1 February 1971) is a French prima ballerina.

Biography

She decided to start ballet when she saw her first ballet on TV (''Swan Lake''). Then she had the opportunity to start ballet as a hobby, and her teacher, Mr. Bertin, persuaded her to audition for the ''Opéra Ballet School'' which she joined when she was 10. She was a shy but graceful pupil and was destined to be at the top of the company. Agnes entered the Paris Opera Ballet company in 1987 at the age of 16, became Coryphée in 1988, Sujet in 1989 and première danseuse in 1993. She demonstrated her talents to this major ballet company and was named étoile after a performance of ''

Swan Lake ''Swan Lake'' ( rus, Лебеди́ное о́зеро, r=Lebedínoye ózero, p=lʲɪbʲɪˈdʲinəjə ˈozʲɪrə, link=no ), Op. 20, is a ballet composed by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1875–76. Despite its initial failur ...

'' in October 1997. As of 2009, Agnes Letestu was nearly at the end of her ballerina career (she was then 38) but she hopes to continue to live her passion for ballet through teaching to the youngest. In October, 2013, she appeared in 'La Dame aux Camelias' at The Paris Opera Ballet in her farewell performance for the company, portraying Marguerite Gautier to great acclaim.

Among her roles of soloist

In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated (Forsythe), Etudes (Lander), Gamzatti in

La Bayadère ''La Bayadère'' ("the temple dancer") ( ru. «Баядерка», ''Bayaderka'') is a ballet, originally staged in four acts and seven tableaux by French choreographer Marius Petipa to the music of Ludwig Minkus. The ballet was staged especiall ...

(Petipa/ Nureyev), Glass Pieces (Robbins), Serenade (Balanchine), Le Jeune homme et la Mort (Petit), Bathilde/Myrtha in Mats Ek's Giselle, Odette/Odile in

, Terpsichore in Apollo, The pas de deux in

Agon Agon (Greek ) is a Greek term for a conflict, struggle or contest. This could be a contest in athletics, in chariot or horse racing, or in music or literature at a public festival in ancient Greece. Agon is the word-forming element in 'agony', ...

.;Pluie de Toiles - Page 163 "À propos, je sors ce soir à Bercy avec Margaux, Baptiste, Kenza et Victorien, assister au spectacle de Maurice Béjart ; sa chorégraphie est montée sur la IXe symphonie de Beethoven avec Agnès Letestu, Laurent Hillaire et Nicolas le Riche." Marguerite Gautier in La Dame aux Camelias.

Awards

* 1989 : Golden Medal of the Eurovision Dance Prize. * 1990 : Gold Medal of the

Varna International Ballet Competition The Varna International Ballet Competition is a biennial ballet competition held in Varna, Bulgaria. The competition was founded in 1964 and subsequently held in 1965 and 1966, and then every two years starting in 1968. Many dancers have gained the ...

. * 2007 :

Prix Benois de la Danse The Benois de la Danse is a ballet competition held annually in Moscow. Founded by the International Dance Association in 1991, it takes place each year on or around April 29 and it's judged by a jury. The members of this jury change every year and ...

References

External links

* http://www.culturekiosque.com/dance/news/rheletest.htm * http://www.ballerinagallery.com/letestu.htm * http://www.blochworld.com/stars/dancer-agnes-letestu {{DEFAULTSORT:Letestu, Agnes Prima ballerinas 1971 births Living people French ballerinas Paris Opera Ballet étoiles