That’s the little phrase that had the cultural world choking this week. In the middle of an interview, Timothée Chalamet jokingly said that opera and ballet were disciplines that “no one cares about anymore.” Ouch. If the French-American actor thought his joke would go unnoticed, he clearly underestimated the quick wit of our local institutions.
The smoothest response came directly from us: Les Grands Ballets Canadiens reacted on their social media with a touch of irony and a lot of class.
Their message? “Agree to disagree, @tchalamet 😏 — Let’s leave it at that, Timothée 😏.”
By showcasing the intensity of rehearsals, the raw talent of the dancers, the fervor of an enthralled audience, and the war machine behind each production, the company elegantly reminds us that ballet is anything but a sleepy discipline.
For those who want to see the response in action, Les Grands Ballets’ schedule is packed . The company is set to make a big splash with Ivan Cavallari’s The Lake , starting May 28, a contemporary reinterpretation of Swan Lake that promises to dazzle audiences at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier.
So sorry, Timothée, but if you think classical dance is gathering dust, it’s because you haven’t set foot in Montreal this season. And to prove that the discipline knows how to reinvent itself, just take a look at Ballet of Lights.
Here, we revisit fairy tales with a modern twist and luminous costumes that transform the stage into a totally immersive experience. It’s visual, it’s vibrant, and it’s proof that ballet can be as electrifying as a Hollywood red carpet.
