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Hugo Marchand on the blood, sweat and tears of a ballet career

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Hugo Marchand on the blood, sweat and tears of a ballet career
16 February 2021 by gramilano

Hugo Marchand © Graham Spicer
In his new book, Danser, Paris Opera Ballet étoile Hugo Marchand wanted to “show the flaws and the difficulties so that we feel less alone” in a career that is a minefield of emotional and physical danger.

In an interview with Le Figaro, he says,

I didn’t feel worthy of writing a book about dance, but I liked the idea of recounting what it means to start a job so young and live it. I wrote it to share the emotional and intellectual journey of this learning curve. It took me more than three years to write Danser. The book was therapeutic as I delved back into memories, challenges, years that were difficult as well as beautiful… I cried a lot, laughed, and was overwhelmed by some very strong emotions.

In the book, the 27-year-old dancer remarks on the often negative effects of the company’s strict hierarchy where dancers are “bullied, humiliated and subjected to disparaging remarks”.