Supported by CHANEL, the Paris Opera Junior Ballet Kuala Lumpur tour, brought world-class ballet, creativity, and cultural exchange to local audiences. This landmark performance connected Malaysian dancers with one of the world’s most prestigious ballet institutions, offering a rare opportunity to witness innovative choreography, striking costumes, and the fearless energy of young international talent on stage.
A Landmark Performance: Paris Opera Junior Ballet in Malaysia
On 18 and 19 November 2025, the Junior Ballet took the stage at Dewan Filharmonik PETRONAS for its first performance in Asia. Created in 2024 with CHANEL’S support, the luxury brand unites young dancers from around the world, giving them a space to refine their technique, explore contemporary movement, and develop their own artistic voices.
The Kuala Lumpur performance reflected CHANEL’s ambition to bring ballet to a wider audiences while championing craftsmanship and artistic exploration. Most importantly, it demonstrated that ballet can remain playful, inventive, and electric when young dancers bring fearless energy to every leap, spin, and lift.
Julian Nicosia’s new work, Eternal Rift, became the highlight of the evening. For this piece, CHANEL created innovative costumes that explored themes of vulnerability and transformation. Sculptural black unitards embroidered with gold traced the dancers’ movements like glowing fractures of light. An oversized coat contrasted with a minimalist combination of wide-cut trousers and a simple tank, highlighting the tension between concealment and exposure. Together, the contrasting costumes mirrored the emotional journey of the piece, showing how vulnerability can become a form of strength. The costumes enhanced the performance, giving each movement a striking visual presence.
Joining the Junior Ballet to perform a selection of classical and contemporary works were Paris Opera Ballet’s Étoiles Roxane Stojanov and Sae Eun Park, Premier Danseur Francesco Mura, and Sujet Antonio Conforti. The audience were treated to performances of Allegro brillante by George Balanchine, À la manière de… by Jean-Guillaume Bart, the Act II Giselle pas de deux, and Mi Favorita by José Martinez. The program balanced technical precision with artistic innovation, proving that even the most difficult ballet moves can feel fresh, surprising, and full of life.
Engaging Local Talent: Classes, Workshops, and Cultural Exchange
Beyond the stage, the Junior Ballet engaged directly with the Malaysian dance community. Through public classes and participatory workshops, students from local ballet schools attended rehearsals and lessons in hopes to gain rare insight into the creative process of a world class company. These sessions reflected the Junior Ballet’s core mission: fostering a space to learn and have a cultural connection. The next generation of local talent was inspired by these little dancers, and from what we’ve heard, there was a lot of laughing, wonder, and shared joy.
CHANEL’s support for the Junior Ballet goes beyond sponsorship, providing funding, mentorship, and resources that help train young dancers and bring their performances to life. This first international tour was more than a milestone but a celebration of collaboration, creativity and joy of sharing ballet with new audiences. For Malaysia, it was a rare opportunity to witness world-class talent up close and a reminder that ballet can be as inventive, energetic, and inspiring as it is disciplined.
A moving ballet performance is not just about precise techniques. Each piece explored a unique emotional narrative, from the playful experimentation of contemporary choreography to the timeless elegance of classical works. More than just steps and turns, audiences were invited to experience moments of tension, vulnerability, and transformation — as the dancers used movement to convey complex emotions and ideas. This layered approach reinforced the idea that ballet is both an art form and a language, capable of connecting cultures and inspiring creativity in ways that transcend words.
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