Paris Opera nominates Guillaume Diop its first black star dancer

At 23 years old, Guillaume Diop has reached a milestone in his career.

 On March 11th , Diop was appointed Prima Ballerina of the Paris Opera , the top rank in this profession.

"I'm still a little bit on cloud nine. I haven't really realised that it really happened. I feel like it was a dream, but I'm still very emotional and very, very happy", admitted star dancer, Guillaume Diop . His mixed heritage, Senegalese and French have led to him being described as the first black star dancer of the Opera .

"The fact that I am described as the first black star dancer of the Opera is not something that upsets me because it is a fact, and I am happy about it", he said. Diop was admitted to the Opera at the age of 18 , and in five years he achieved the supreme title , something that required total dedication.

"The thing that bothers me is when it is passed off as positive discrimination. That's something I don't think is fair in the end", confessed the dancer. (...)  "I started off in extremely difficult conditions. At 21 years old, to take over a three-act ballet with a star 4dancer in a week is not easy. And then I had crazy days. I worked from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.".

The title obtained is also a way to motivate younger people to follow in the same footsteps.

"And so I'm really happy and proud to represent that too, because I am aware that it will help children and families to get into dance", concluded Diop . 

In less than two years, Guillaume Diop has danced several great roles in the repertoire, including "Swan Lake" and "La Bayadère" , a ballet for which he had just three days to prepare.