9 replies to this topic

[Natalia]

The men took the cake at the one performance of Giselle that I saw at the Kennedy Center this weekend. A dark, handsome, technically brilliant and ultra-energetic young choryphee, Axel Ibot, absolutely wowed us in the Peasant PDD. (His partner, sujet Heloise Bourdon, was also quite fine.) Ibot soared to perfection in the first of his two solos, sending several of us on the Kennedy Opera House's 2nd Tier up to our feet, yelling 'bravo!' like crazy. Perhaps our response made him try even harder in the 2nd solo, jumping almost too high and with too much energy in the last sequence of double pirouettes, resulting in an off-balance moment...but the audience went crazy yet again.

I've looked all over the internet for a bio on this incredible artist, to no avail. Could our POB experts please enlighten us? How old is he? What is his repertoire at POB? How is he regarded at home? What is his heritage? He is dark and exotic. Real star quality.

We have to get this young lad up on YouTube ASAP! (So far, have not found him. Would love everyone to see.)

[cinnamonswirl]

He joined the company in 2003. So he's probably around 25? He was promoted to coryphée in 2006. He went to the POB school.

I'd say he's pretty well regarded at the Opera, he's seems consistently cast in demi-soloist roles (Emeralds pd3, Paquita pd3, Swan Lake pd3). He's also playing Albrecht's servant on the US tour in addition to doing the peasant pd2.

He appears to be on Twitter https://twitter.com/axelibot

[Natalia]

Thanks, cinnamonswirl. Already 25? Well, he needs to get rolling to avoid 'Emmanuelitis'!

I also see that that he was a featured dancer in Suite en Blanc (in the pas de cinq of one female and 4 guys) in Chicago, so maybe I'll get to see him again in NYC next week? In fact, he danced Suite's pas de cinc and was in the corps of the two other ballets in the French Triple Bill. Something to look forward to. Packing the opera glasses right now.

Unless castings change, NYC will not see him dance the Peasant pas in Giselle. That is 'highway robbery' for New York balletomanes, IMO.

[mussel]

Unless castings change, NYC will not see him dance the Peasant pas in Giselle. That is 'highway robbery' for New York balletomanes, IMO.

I suspect POB is aware of ABT's male principal problem and not casting him in the Peasant pas is a way of hiding him from ABT poacher.

[ksk04]

Unless castings change, NYC will not see him dance the Peasant pas in Giselle. That is 'highway robbery' for New York balletomanes, IMO.

I suspect POB is aware of ABT's male principal problem and not casting him in the Peasant pas is a way of hiding him from ABT poacher.

Oh my! A French import would be most unusual--poaching advisory level: yellow.

[miliosr]

Thanks, cinnamonswirl. Already 25? Well, he needs to get rolling to avoid 'Emmanuelitis'!

Poor Thibault. I fear that, if he becomes etoile at all, it will be as a pity etoile (age 41).

I also see that that he was a featured dancer in Suite en Blanc (in the pas de cinq of one female and 4 guys) in Chicago, so maybe I'll get to see him again in NYC next week?

Trust me . . . you will like ALL of the guys in the pas de cinq.

[FauxPas]

Though his name was not listed in initial casting releases, Axel Ibot is dancing the Bastille Day Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. tomorrow with Mlle. Bourdon. He is also dancing the July 18th performance as well.

[Natalia]

Did any among us catch either of Ibot's two performances in Peasant PDD (14th matinee or last night)? Hopefully he and Heloise B. were as wonderful in NY as they were at the Kennedy Center.

Even from way up in 4th Tier, I clearly spotted Ibot in the corps of the three one-act ballets last Sunday, e.g., he was one of the eight guys atop the platform -- the guy farthest to the left -- while Ganio danced the Mazurka in Suite en Blanc!

Best of all, I've finally discovered a video of him: he is one of Frantz' 4 male friends in the recent DVD of P. Bart's Coppelia...and he can be clearly spotted ripping-away entrechats six, tours, pirouettes, etc. In fact, it's interesting that he is the guy placed immediately behind Mathias Heymann in most close-up shots. The camera loves this guy. Now all we need is a DVD with a solo all to himself....please!!!!!

[mussel]

Ibot is by far the best of all the peasant pas, perfect form, beautiful line, super high jumps, flawless and smooth landings.... I can't believe he's still a coryphee, POB needs to promote him NOW! Axel with his peasant pas partner Heloise Bourdon:

[Natalia]

That's them. Thank you for the charming candid pic, mussell.