Paris Opera

The Paris Opera's first dancers will be performing at the Herod Atticus Odeon on September 23 in a remarkable tribute to the iconic 20th-century dancer and choreographer Rudolf Nureyev. This enchanting night will feature a showcase of classical repertoire masterpieces and Nureyev's most significant choreographies, highlighting the roles that earned him global recognition.

He conquered the New York stage, married a Hollywood star and directed a daring new film version of "Carmen." But Benjamin Millepied says he had to give up the American dream to return to France.

Millepied is best-known to tabloid gossip fans as the husband of actress Natalie Portman, whom he met while working as choreographer on the Oscar-winning film "Black Swan."

Venezuela's acclaimed conductor Gustavo Dudamel said in a surprise announcement on May 25 that he was stepping down from his role as musical director of the Paris Opera, four years before his contract was due to expire.

He is the first black person to achieve the exalted status of an "etoile" dancer at the Paris Opera, but that is only a small indication of what makes Guillaume Diop one of the most exciting ballet talents of his generation.

The Paris Opera on March 11 appointed 23-year old dancer Guillaume Diop to its Etoile category, the first time a black person has received the ballet's coveted top rank.

Giselle, sometimes referred to as the Queen of Romantic Ballet, will premiere at Ljubljana's Cankarjev Dom on 12 January in a co-production with the national opera and ballet company that has been choreographed by Jose Carlos Martinez, the new director of ballet at the Paris Opera.

The director of dance at the Paris Opera, Aurelie Dupont, who faced criticism in the past over her leadership, announced her surprise resignation on June 16.

The 49-year-old ex-star dancer said she was devoting herself to new projects including a book and documentary.

Sunset in Caracas was accompanied by the sound of classical music on Nov. 14 as thousands of Venezuelan musicians performed Tchaikovsky's 'Marche Salve' to set the record for "the world's largest orchestra".

Flanked by mountains, the courtyard of the Venezuelan Military Academy hosted around 12,000 classical musicians looking to make their way into the Guinness Book of World Records.

The Paris Opera's production of "Swan Lake" based on the famed 1984 choreography by Rudolf Nureyev will be streamed online by Greece's Christmas Theater event organizer from February 12-15. It costs 15 euros to watch the show, with bookings available on christmastheater.gr, viva.gr and tel 211.770.1700. Screenings take place at 8 p.m., with additional shows at 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Sadistic teachers and murderous levels of competition: from "Black Swan" to "Tiny Pretty Things" the world of ballet seems a place fit only for psychopaths if its screen incarnations are to be believed.

Real-world dancers in France take some exception to this, however.