Sad news: Top choreographer is found dead two days before his wedding
mainBertrand d’At was due to get married his weekend.
A protégé of Maurice Béjart, he danced and made ballets for the master’s company before branching out on his own, with a special interest in Chinese culture. His most eye-catching work was A Sign of Love, a blues fantasy set in Shanghai.
He moved to Sweden in the 1990s to direct the Cullberg Ballet, and went on to lead the Ballet du Rhin from 1997.
D’At, who was 57, was found dead in his Paris apartment. No cause has yet been disclosed.
That is indeed extremely sad news. I worked with him on the French premiere of Prince of the Pagodas, for which he created a visually stunning production and choreography. He was extremely kind to me, a young conductor working on my first ballet (as assistant conductor), and he helped make my time with the Opera National du Rhin a very happy experience. I always looked forward to seeing him when I returned over the years to work with the opera company. I will remember him with great fondness.