80 Times Ballet Dancer Sylvie Guillem Made Me Say WOW!

Music: String Quartet in D: Andante and Interlude No. 1 by Peter Sandberg Sylvie Guillem is undoubtedly one of the most important and astounding ballet dancers of her generation. Born February 23, 1965 in Paris, France. In 1977, at age 11, she began training at the Paris Opera Ballet School, and in 1981 joined the company’s corps de ballet. In 1983, Guillem won the gold medal at the Varna International Ballet Competition, catching the eye of Rudolf Nureyev. She became his protegé and in December 1984, Guillem was named etoile or “star,“ the youngest ever to be awarded the title at Paris Opera Ballet. In 1988, Guillem danced the title role in Giselle, a production staged by the Royal Ballet in honor of Nureyev’s 50th birthday. Her performance was a massive success, and although the Parisian fans adored her, she decided to leave Paris for London. Desiring more freedom over her own career, she became a freelance performer and one of the Royal Ballet’s principal gues