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Who was Patrick Dupond?
Patrick Dupond was a French ballet dancer and artistic director who made a name for himself in 1976 when he won the gold medal at the Varna International Ballet Competition in Bulgaria. He was a virtuoso dancer who was named danseur étoile of the Paris Opera Ballet in 1980 and worked with eminent dancers such as Rudolf Nureyev, Maurice Béjart and Alvin Ailey. He also appeared on various television shows as a contestant or juror, such as Danse avec les stars. He was admired and loved by the public and his peers for his charisma, generosity and joy of dancing.
How did Patrick Dupond die?
Patrick Dupond died on 5 March 2021, a few days before his 62nd birthday, as a result of a “devastating illness”, according to those close to him. His collaborator, Leïla Da Rocha, said, “Patrick Dupond flew this morning to dance with the stars.” The exact nature of his illness was not disclosed, but he had suffered from several health problems in the past, such as a car accident in 2000 that left him with multiple fractures and a coma, and a cancer diagnosis in 2018 that he overcame.
How did the world react to Patrick Dupond’s death?
Patrick Dupond’s death was met with an outpouring of grief and tributes from the dance world and beyond. Many of his former colleagues and partners expressed their sadness and admiration for him, such as Carla Fracci, Luciana Savignano, Manuel Legris and Roland Petit. The director of the Paris Opera, Alexander Neef, said, “His style, his personality and his passion for dance have marked the history of our institution and the world of dance.” The French culture minister, Roselyne Bachelot, called him “a prodigious dancer who transported the public with his virtuosity and his expressiveness.” The French president, Emmanuel Macron, tweeted, “He was the grace, the avant-garde, the talent made man. Patrick Dupond joins the pantheon of the great French dancers. His art and his passion will live on through his students and admirers.”
What is Patrick Dupond’s legacy?
Patrick Dupond’s legacy is that of a dancer who pushed the boundaries of his art and inspired generations of dancers and audiences with his talent and personality. He was a pioneer of the fusion of classical and contemporary dance, and a champion of the diversity and accessibility of dance. He founded his own dance company, White Eagle, in 2003, and taught dance workshops around the world. He also supported many charitable causes, such as the fight against AIDS and the protection of animals. He will be remembered as one of the greatest French dancers of his generation and a legend of the ballet.
