Michel Descombey (28 October 1930 – 5 December 2011) was a French ballet dancer, choreographer and director. Descombay studied dancing in

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

, and debuted as a professional dancer of the Ballet de l'Opéra National in 1947. In 1959 he became

premier danseur A principal dancer (often shortened to principal) is a dancer at the highest rank within a professional dance company, particularly a ballet company. A principal may be either gender. The position is similar to that of '' soloist''; however, pri ...

,''Michel Descombey''
The Oxford Dictionary of Dance. then ballet master, and official choreographer and finally director of the company from 1962 to 1969. He also established the training ballet group of the Opéra National de Paris. Afterwards he was ballet director of the

Zürcher Ballett Zürcher is a Swiss or German surname. It is a habitational name for someone from the city of Zürich. Notable people with the surname include: *Brigitte Zürcher, Swiss orienteer *Christoph Zürcher, German professor *Erik Zürcher (1928–2008), ...

of the

Zurich Opera Zurich Opera (Opernhaus Zürich) is a Swiss opera company based in Zurich. The company gives performances in the Zurich Opera House. History The first performance at the current theatre occurred on 30 September 1891, with a production of Wagner's ...

from 1971 to 1973, and was invited to

Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...

by Orozco.Gabriela Jiménez Bernal
''Michel Descombey''
,

National Autonomous University of Mexico The National Autonomous University of Mexico (, UNAM) is a public university, public research university in Mexico. It has several campuses in Mexico City, and many others in various locations across Mexico, as well as a presence in nine countri ...

In 1975 he settled down in Mexico, where he became chief choreographer and associate director of the ''Ballet Teatro del Espacio'' in 1977. He was a member of the

Sistema Nacional de Creadores de Arte The Sistema Nacional de Creadores de Arte (SNCA; ''National System of Art Creators'') is program developed by the former Consejo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes, and founded per presidential decree on September 3, 1993. Its goal is the advance ...

(SNCA).''Michel Descombey ''

Honors

* Chevalier (knight) of the

Ordre des Arts et des Lettres The Order of Arts and Letters () is an order of France established on 2 May 1957 by the Minister of Culture. Its supplementary status to the was confirmed by President Charles de Gaulle in 1963. Its purpose is the recognition of significant ...

* Chevaliers of the

Légion d'honneur The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and Civil society, civil. Currently consisting of five cl ...

Order of the Aztec Eagle The Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle () forms part of the Mexican Honors System and is the highest Mexican order awarded to foreigners. History It was created by decree on December 29, 1933, by President Abelardo L. Rodríguez as a reward to ...

References

External links

* 1930 births 2011 deaths People from Bois-Colombes French male ballet dancers French ballet choreographers Chevaliers of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres Knights of the Legion of Honour Paris Opera Ballet dancers French ballet masters Paris Opera Ballet artistic directors 20th-century French ballet dancers {{France-dance-bio-stub