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The Staatsballett Berlin mourns the loss of Patrice Bart, the French choreographer, ballet master, dancer, and connoisseur of ballet. After a long and serious illness, he passed away at the age of eighty in Falaise, Normandy.

With a total of seven choreographies, he left an indelible mark on Berlin – Don Quixote (1993, with José de Udaeta), Swan Lake (1997), The Nutcracker (1999), Verdiana (1999), Giselle (2000), Romeo and Juliet (2002), and The Flaming Heart (2009, inspired by the poet Percy Shelley). His productions of Giselle and Swan Lake remain in the company’s repertoire to this day, each having been performed more than 200 times, and continue to captivate audiences as cornerstones of Berlin’s ballet season.

Almost every year, he returned to Berlin to prepare new casts for the revivals of his productions. Over the decades, many generations of dancers – of the Staatsballett Berlin and, before that, of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden – had the privilege of working with him personally. For some, he created new interpretations of roles, exploring their psychological depth with extraordinary insight.

He was uncompromising and passionate in his pursuit of perfection in every moment and gesture of classical dance, dedicated to revealing all the finesse of the French ballet style. Even in later years, he was unstoppable – demonstrating the most demanding step combinations with boundless energy, often with a touch of irony, fully aware of what he was asking of his dancers. His productions radiated the same vitality as his working style – exuberant in their choreographic action, designed around the individuality of each soloist, and bringing their artistry brilliantly to life.

Patrice Bart was one of the great figures of the ballet world, and he will be deeply missed. Not only by the Staatsballett Berlin – where his artistic vision and instinct for the stage left a lasting influence – but also by the wider international community of this art form, which must constantly renew itself to preserve its traditions. Without many words, through his work he gave classical dance a new vitality for the 21st century – something that can only be conveyed through action.

Patrice Bart loved ballet. The Staatsballett Berlin mourns his passing. It is a great honour to perform his Berlin productions, and with every rehearsal and every performance, the Staatsballett Berlin keeps his memory alive.