Moving reunion at the École supérieure de ballet du Québec | 100th birthday of Ludmilla Chiriaeff

On Sunday February 11, the École supérieure de ballet du Québec welcomed no less than sixty former students for a ballet class in tribute to the centenary of Ludmilla Chiriaeff, the founder of our institution. Fun, nostalgia and a dose of effort characterized this very special ballet class.

The event was truly intergenerational! Those who had trodden the floors of l'École supérieure or l'école Pierre-Laporte in the 1970s shared the helm with their successors from the following five decades, testifying to the lasting impact of ballet (and our school!) on several generations of dancers.

The atmosphere was charged with memories and anticipation right from the start of the event. A guard of honor made up of young students from the École supérieure greeted our alumni as they made their way to the Ludmilla Chiriaeff studio, where the class was held. The young ballerinas then danced a révérence in honor of Madame's 100th birthday, reminding us of the importance of perpetuating her legacy and artistic vision, and saluting our special guests in true ballet tradition.

As for the ballet class itself, it was a real treat! The former graduates showed that they had lost none of their grace and skill, with a precision and panache that impressed us greatly. The exercises were taught by none other than Anik Bissonnette, Anne Dryburgh, Manon Forget and Myriam Simon! The atmosphere was joyous, imbued with a shared passion for this demanding but rewarding art.

After the effort, the comfort: a relaxation area awaited the participants to end the activity in an atmosphere of conviviality and renewed camaraderie, where memories flowed and a host of anecdotes were shared.

All in all, this ballet class for our alumni was much more than a simple commemorative event. It was a vibrant celebration of Ludmilla Chiriaeff's legacy, a touching moment of reunion and a testament to the timeless passion for dance that still animates the great family of the École supérieure de ballet du Québec.