On March 5, 2021, Patrick Dupond left us suddenly at the age of 61, just days before celebrating his 62nd birthday. According to the press release from those close to him, the star dancer, former director of dance at the Paris Opera, had succumbed to “a devastating illness”. A few weeks later, his partner, Leïla, revealed that the dancer had been a victim of dazzling lung cancer, diagnosed far too late. His funeral took place on March 11 in the Saint-Roch-de-Paris church, in the presence of many celebrities from the world of dance, including Marie-Claude Pietragalla. It must be said that the two former jurors of Dance with the starswho also took turns in the chairs of Prodigiesknew each other many years ago, and have a very special personal story, which the professional told to Frédéric Lopez with a lot of emotion this Sunday January 7, 2024.
Guest on her show A Sunday in the countryside alongside the singer Élisa Tovati and the comedian Ahmed Sylla, Marie-Claude Pietragalla, whom many have nicknamed Pietra since she was popularized by her participation in the show Dance with the stars, was destabilized by a photo that the host presented to herand on which his friend Patrick Dupond appears as a young star dancer at the Paris Opera, which they both attended. Very movedher eyes clouded with tears, the one who said she was “upset” still today by his sudden disappearance, spoke of their shared memories, and revealed to him“(be) grateful for life”believing that she owed her career as a prima ballerina to him.
A calf strain, and 32 laps to complete
In December 1990, Marie-Claude Pietragalla was chosen by Patrick Dupond, then dance director of the Paris Opera, to interpret the role of Kitri in the ballet Don Quixote. This role is perilous, because the opera lasts more than three hours, but Pietra wants to succeed and make proud the one who placed his full trust in him: “When you are given a chance like this, you tell yourself that you must not miss it.” But unfortunately, a few weeks before the big jump, Marie-Claude Pietragalla is a victim a calf strainand his dreams collapse: “I tell myself: Either I don’t dance, and maybe I’ll never be named a star, or I do whatever it takes to dance. I arrive on the big day, and I say to myself: I don’t know if I will finish the show but I have to finish it. In addition, the total horror is that this ballet ends with a pas de deux at the end of the third act (…) The girl turns 32 times on the same leg, and therefore 32 times on my slammed calf“ explains the professional.
A historic performance recognized by a supreme award
An inconsiderable effort that Marie-Claude Pietragalla struggles to achieve, but succeeds, without showing an ounce of pain to the spectators. But when greeting the public, the young woman, then aged 27, rambled: “I didn’t know my name anymore, it was terrible”. This is without counting the arrival of Patrick Dupond, who, amazed by the incredible efforts made by his young dancer not to disappoint him, announces his appointment : “From this little rat, I came to be named Star of the Opera by Patrick Dupond (…) I will be eternally gratefuland to Patrick, and to Nureyev, because I dance his Don Quixote” concluded the one who said she was “deeply touched by his disappearance”.