Marie-Claude Pietragalla, une femme en perpétuel mouvement
Dance to express one's energy
From a very young age, Marie-Claude Pietragalla was a very active, rebellious child who needed to channel her energy. On her mother's advice, she began dancing to manage it. It was undoubtedly the best advice she received. This boundless energy is evident in her breathtaking performances, which combine grace and dynamism. At ten, she was accepted into the Paris Opera Ballet School. It would be hard to imagine a better environment! Her director described her as extremely determined and possessing a strong and assertive character.
Star at the Paris Opera
This fiery spirit, subtly balanced by her elegance, led her, less than twenty years later, to be named étoile (principal dancer) of the Paris Opera Ballet, a position she held for eight years. Alongside her classical ballet career, she also pursued contemporary dance. Her performances led her to perform solo at the Olympia, filling the space with her radiant charisma and captivating grace.
Shooting star
Untamed and rebellious, Pietra, as she likes to be called, left the Paris Opera at 35, a very rare occurrence but one that demonstrates her independence. She became director of the Ballet National de Marseille, which she in turn left after five years.
Drawing on her experience, she founded the company Le Théâtre du Corps Pietragalla-Derouault a year later, where classical and contemporary dance intertwine. Marie-Claude challenges conventions by incorporating hip-hop influences into her performances. In September 2018, she and her partner Julien Derouault founded a dance school welcoming both amateurs and professionals. Who knows what project will emerge next?
MAEVY, the embodiment of the Wild Woman
Marie-Claude Pietragalla lets her art guide her according to her desires and her numerous and varied projects. The essence of her art reflects the MAEVY Free Movement, and her rebellious character is the perfect representation of the independent Wild Woman as envisioned by MAEVY.
