Jiri Kylian's Doux Mensonges at the Garnier Opera

Jiri Kylian, Czech dancer and choreographer, was born in Prague in 1947. Trained in classical dance from 9 years old in Prague, he studied at the Royal Ballet School of London in 1967. In 1968, noticed by the choreographer John Cranko, he became a soloist in the Stuttgart ballet, where he performed his own choreographies from 1970 onwards:Paradox, followed the same year byKommen und Geben(over music by Bartok) and by three other creations from 1971 and 1972. From 1973 he worked with the Nederlands Dans Theatre in The Hague, where he worked as an artistic director from 1975. Three years later, he took over the head of the ballet, whose international prestige he reinforced from 1978 withSinfonietta(over Stravinsky music) andSymphony of Psalms(over his compatriot Leos Janacek's music).

Rigorous in his work, and no less in listening to his dancers, generating harmony, energy and fluidity. His dance draws its originality from an alliance of classical style, modern techniques (under the influence of Martha Graham) and folklore. InDreamtime(1983), he refers to Aboriginal Australian culture. By dividing the Nederlands Dans Theatre into three companies, of which, NDT3, is made up of dancers over forty years old, Kylian has added to the troupe's specificity.