Sylvie Guillem

Lore & Background

Sylvie Guillem was born in Paris and raised in a working-class family. She initially trained in gymnastics under her mother, a gymnastics teacher, and began ballet training at age 11 at the Paris Opera Ballet School. She initially disliked dancing but fell in love with performing after an end-of-term show.

In 1988, she performed the title role in a Royal Ballet production of Giselle celebrating Nureyev's 50th birthday. The following year, she left Paris for London to become a freelance performer and principal guest artist with the Royal Ballet. Guillem explained her style by saying she tried to remove superfluous gestures and preferred not to perform feelings she did not genuinely experience.

Did You Know?

• She was dubbed 'Mademoiselle Non' by Royal Ballet director Anthony Dowell for her independent spirit.
• She won the first Nijinsky Prize in 2001 but criticized the 'supermarket culture' of awards.