The death of Patrick Dupond left a great void in the hearts of the French, of the many personalities who paid tribute to him and his relatives. The star-studded dancer who died at the age of 61 from a dazzling illness leaves behind his companion, the sacred oriental dancer Leïla Da Rocha. Patrick Dupond had met him sixteen years ago, in 2004. At the time, Patrick Dupond was homosexual, but his love at first sight for the former professional basketball player converted into dance called everything into question as he explained in 2017 in the columns of Paris Match. Director of a dance school in Soissons, the latter wanted to meet him as part of her duties. "She found the words, I accepted a date. The interview was to last thirty minutes.. At three in the morning, we couldn't leave each other ", he had confided. A beautiful story was born that evening. "It suited me lying to myself. As far as I'm concerned, homosexuality was a mistake …", he also said.
Passionate from an early age, Patrick Dupond has always worked hard to achieve his goals. Admitted to dance school in 1969, at the age of ten, the former juror of Dance with the stars has always put his work before his private life, even if it means suffering: "Star dancer at the Paris Opera, then director of the Ballet, where I took over from Rudolf Nureyev, I have toured the planet fourteen times with the greatest creators, from Maurice Béjart to Roland Petit via Alvin Ailey. A rhythm and responsibilities which brought me to a totally self-centered life, while dance should be a gift to others ", he explains in this same interview. A life at 100 per hour which undoubtedly prevented him from starting a family.
Patrick Dupond and loneliness
"You have to understand that a life as an international principal dancer is incompatible with a life as a couple, because it is impossible to be available to others", he still lamented. Appointed principal dancer on October 30, 1980, at the age of 21, Patrick Dupond often felt lonely during the rest of his career: “Seventeen thousand people are cheering you on stage, but you have no one to share this moment with. When I returned home, I was happy to find my animals, but I was alone. Or alone with two, which amounts to the same ", he revealed.
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