From the City of the Gods to the City of the Doges, a Ponant cruise with dancers from the Paris Opera Ballet
PONANT and the Paris Opera (Opéra national de Paris) have joined forces in an unprecedented partnership for an outstanding voyage in 2024.
Six dancers from the Opera’s ballet company, including prima ballerinas Valentine Colasante and Mathieu Ganio, will be invited onboard to promote dance beyond theatreland, for the delight of PONANT guests.
From Athens to Venice via Corfu and Dubrovnik, 1st to 8 August 2024, six dancers whose tremendous talent has been acclaimed on the theatre stages worldwide, will be on board “L’Austral”. With performances at sea and ashore, themed lectures and introductory ballet classes, enlightened fans of classical dance or the newly converted can all enjoy the experience in their own way.
“What the Paris Opera Ballet and PONANT have in common is that both are driven by an all-consuming desire to share, to be open to others and the world. Through this partnership, they are offering travellers an opportunity to discover the Opera’s classical and contemporary dance treasures and to exchange views. It is an odyssey that I know in my heart will inspire the six dancers as they perform against a backdrop of theatrical Greek and Croatian landscapes,” says Alexandre Neef, Director General of the Paris Opera.
The new PONANT partnership, which is as exclusive as it is exceptional, further reinforces an enrichment programme of unrivalled quality on the market. “We are delighted and proud of the confidence and trust placed in us by the Paris Opera in forging this partnership. Dance has the power to unite, transport and invite people to share. It is the essence of PONANT’s Explore to Inspire philosophy. It is also in the spirit of the new collection of themes, Travel is an Art, for voyages ever richer in meaning and inspiration; and truly unforgettable moments,” enthuses Hervé Gastinel, CEO of PONANT.
The Paris Opera has worked closely with PONANT in designing this one-of-a kind programme. Aboard L’Austral, the prima ballerinas and dancers from the Paris Opera Ballet will take part in two privileged meetings with guests, where they reflect on their careers and what drives them. There will also be two screenings of performances and excerpts from documentaries on dance, followed by a discussion.
PONANT and the Paris Opera Ballet have also come up with two “danced lectures” involving rehearsing the pas de deux in front of an audience, a wonderful invitation to find out what goes on behind the scenes when preparing a ballet. To complete this immersive experience, travellers will have the opportunity to take part in an introductory classical ballet class with a dance teacher from the Paris Opera, yet another opportunity to enjoy privileged exchanges with the world of dance.
And there is no question of ports of call serving as breaks! On the contrary, the dancers will hold two exceptional performances planned with extracts of the great classical and contemporary ballets in the Municipality Theatre of Corfu on 3 August 2024 and the Dubrovnik Theatre Marin Držić on 5 August 2024.
From the City of the Gods to the City of the Doges with the Paris Opera Ballet
Athens – Venice, on L’Austral. 1st to 8 August 2024, 8 days – 7 nights.
From €3,920
(Ponant)
