Sylvie Guillem

Born: 1965-02-25

Born in February of 1965, French ballerina Sylvie Guillem originally trained to be a gymnast before enrolling in the Paris Opera Ballet School at age 11. At 16, she was promoted into the Company and a year later, after winning the Varna International Ballet Competition, Guillem became an Etoile of the company after her first performance of Swan Lake. She went on to create a lead role for William Forsythe's modern ballet In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated in 1987, before shocking her fellow Company members, particularly Rudolf Nureyev, and leaving the Paris Opera Ballet Company to become the principal guest artist at the Royal Ballet. Guillem was often criticized for her high extensions, which were said to disturb the line of classical form. However, Guillem viewed her extreme flexibility as an asset that helped develop her reputation as a world class dancer and solidify her influential style as a pioneer of contemporary ballet.


Placeholder

Evidentia

as Self
Released: 1995-12-27

In this experimental film conceived by Sylvie Guillem, the choreographers become dancers or...

Movie page

Cinderella

as Cinderella
Released: 1997-04-30

"A Paris Opera Production filmed in studio with Sylvie Guillem, Charles Jude and Rudolf Nureyev...

Movie page

Bye

as uncredited
Released: 2013-02-01

BYE (AJÖ), a new dance film, is choreographed and directed by acclaimed Swedish choreographer...

Movie page

Sylvie Guillem - On The Edge

as sie selbst
Released:

Movie page

The Paris Opera Ballet: Seven Ballets

as Dancer
Released: 2007-01-01

Special Interest, Ballet & Modern Dance, Dance, Classical Music, Classical Instrumental...

Movie page

Guillem

as Herself
Released: 2003-04-16

This film follows Sylvie Guillem in its frantic race around the globe and reveals the daily life...

Movie page

Champs-Elysées

as Self
First aired: 1982-01-16

TV Show page

Le Grand Échiquier

as Self
First aired: 1972-01-12

TV Show page

The Culture Show

as Self
First aired: 2004-11-11

A weekly BBC Two magazine programme focusing on the best of the week's arts and culture news,...

TV Show page