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Category_Ballet, Category_Dance News, Category_Dancers, Paris Opera Ballet, Sadlers Wells, Sylvie Guillem, The Royal Ballet, Tokyo Ballet

Sylvie Guillem's final dance programme for London

After an unparalleled career that has spanned almost 35 years of performing both ballet and contemporary work, the iconic Sylvie Guillem will present her final dance programme at Sadler’s Wells, from 26–31 May 2015, a bittersweet moment for her audiences and fans alike. For this special programme she will perform both existing and new works by choreographers who have influenced her contemporary career. Guillem is a highly respected dancer, renowned the world over with an extensive career at the Paris Opera Ballet, the Royal Ballet and Tokyo Ballet. She has danced many iconic roles in ballets by Kenneth MacMillan, Maurice Béjart, Frederick Ashton, William Forsythe and Mats Ek, and has also moved into the world of contemporary dance, performing acclaimed works such as PUSH, Sacred Monsters and 6000 miles away with various prestigious contemporary dance artists. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYx0xw7yhzk Widely recognised as one of the world’s greatest dancers, Sylvie Guillem CBE was born in Paris and trained in gymnastics. Aged 11, she began training at the Paris Opera Ballet School, and in 1981 joined the company’s corps de ballet. She was promoted to the rank of “Etoile” by Rudolf Nureyev at the age of 19. Titled Life in Progress, as the last opportunity to see her dance on the theatre’s stage, Guillem will perform a solo by choreographer and Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist Akram Khan, and a pas de deux with Italian dancer Emanuela Montanari from La Scala. The new duet is choreographed by Russell Maliphant with lighting by Michael Hulls, both of whom are Associate Artists of the theatre and who collaborated with her on the award-winning PUSH. The evening will also include Ek’s touching and poignant solo, Bye, which was made especially for Guillem. It is completed by Forsythe’s Duo performed by two male dancers, which premiered in 1996. Life in Progress will tour internationally in 2015 starting with the world premiere on 31 March and culminating with final performances in Tokyo in December.