Noella Pontois & Eric Vu An ~ Don Quixote Pas De Deux

Noella Pontois and Eric Vu An performing 'Don Quixote' Pas De Deux. UNESCO 40th Anniversary Bolshoi Ballet Gala 1987.
Noëlla Pontois was born in Vendôme, France, in 1943. She entered the Paris Opéra Ballet School in 1953 and joined the POB in 1961. She was promoted to principal in 1966 and to étoile in 1968. She is remembered for her lightness, exceptional balance, romantic grace and delicate style. Was a frequent partner of Rudolf Nureyev. Retired from the POB in 1983.
She excelled in the 19th-century classical repertoire but also created roles in among others Petit's Adage et variations 1965, Extase 1968 and Mouvances 1976, Descombey's Jazz Suite 1966 and Zyklus 1966, Flindt's Jeux 1973, Alonso's Pas de quatre 1973, Robbins' Scherzo fantastique 1974.
Awards: Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur, 1984.
Éric Vu An began his dance training at the age of ten and was engaged as a corps de ballet member with the Opéra de Paris at the age of fifteen. At seventeen, he had already started his international career and danced in the most reputable theatres around the world.
Throughout his career, he was rewarded many times with medals and prestigious awards, among them a silver medal at the International Competition in Varna, a silver medal at the Nijinsky Prize, in Italy the Art Danza Prize, the Aquidanza Prize and the Gino Panni Prize.
He worked with the most reputable European and North American choreographers. His career also brought him fame in television, musicals and films.
Éric Vu An is now Artistic Director at the Ballet of Avignon in France.

[@ciaomariobello]

Noëlla Pontois was born in Vendôme, France, in 1943. She entered the Paris Opéra Ballet School in 1953 and joined the POB in 1961. She was promoted to principal in 1966 and to étoile in 1968. She is remembered for her lightness, exceptional balance, romantic grace and delicate style. Was a frequent partner of Rudolf Nureyev. Retired from the POB in 1983.

[@alainspiteri502]

a amazing Don-Quichotte pdd Pontois-Baryschnikov in 1975 at Paris-Opera but VHS didn't exist there is no video on You Tube !

[@palubob]

@EightballRus Miteki Kudo is still a Sujet. Many people far more knowledgeable than I am feel strongly that she should have been promoted years ago. I agree with them. If you watch Etoiles you will hear Pontois alluding to this - over ten years ago.

[@ciaomariobello]

Éric Vu An began his dance training at the age of ten and was engaged as a corps de ballet member with the Opéra de Paris at the age of fifteen. At seventeen, he had already started his international career and danced in the most reputable theatres around the world.

[@palubob]

@Qbendanny There is no need to add anything to your fine description. Perhaps the great sadness of her life is the shabby treatment of her daughter by the POB. It was almost Mariinsky-esque.

[@IceAintNice]

@palubob Shabby treatment of her daughter? What does that mean?

[@normezmoi]

Eric Vu An had his career distroyed by a plot made by Maurice Bejart against Nureyev. He was "nominated" by Bejart as an étoile on stage, a power that the choreographer didn't have (it was only on Nureyev behalf). Nureyev announced he was not "étoile" and after that he had to leave the Paris Opera.
In 2020, he was accused of harassment by a ballerina in the Nice Mediterranee Ballet.