The company
Gil Roman and the company, Lausanne 2010
Four years after the death of Maurice Béjart, the Béjart Ballet Lausanne is still held in the same regard as always: the very highest levels. They undertake tour after tour all around the world and continue to shine with exceptional events, as though Béjart holds the secret. The latest being Sacre du printemps performed in Japan in symbiosis with the Tokyo Ballet accompanied with the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra led by Zubin Mehta!
There are always lots of candidates at the auditions and the performances are an equal success. Gil Roman, designated successor to Maurice Béjart, has led the troupe for several years and strives to keep alive the Béjartian oeuvre. During the last four seasons he has showcased the reprise performances Le Sacre du printemps, Serait-ce la mort ?, Sonate à trois, Ce que l’amour me dit, Le Concours, Le Chant du compagnon errant, Webern Opus V, Dialogue de l’ombre double, Le Marteau sans maître et Dionysos (suite) while L’Amour la danse, Le Presbytère… , Le Tour du monde en 80 minutes, Elton Berg, Mephisto Valse and Cantique were performed throughout the seasons.
But a ballet company cannot live on reprises alone. Gil Roman has also created new ballets. To his creations L’Habit ne fait pas le moine, Réflexion sur Béla, Echographie d’une baleine and Casino des esprits he added Aria and, most recently, Syncope. Meanwhile, he commissioned choreography from former members of the BBL. Tony Fabre was invited to stage Ismael, Sthan Kabar Louët created Alziam O-Est and Julio Arozarena Song of Herself. Joost Vrouenraets, former student at Atelier-Rudra Béjart, made Ex Orbis. This rich choreographic oeuvre was supplemented by two prestigious choreographers: Fauve by Jean-Christophe Maillot, created for Bernice Coppieters and Gil Roman, presented in Monte Carlo as part of the « Russian ballet » evening and Figures of Thought by Alonzo King unveiled at a world premiere on 11 June 2011 in Lausanne.
