“I took my first dance class at the age of 9, with the deep intuition that this practice would transform my life. From that very first lesson, a realization emerged: an awareness of my entire body — its mobility, flexibility, strength, limits, and availability. I became aware of the space around me, the space offered to me, and the space left for others. I felt the presence of the group and the rhythm of our shared breathing. I left deeply moved and amazed. Since that day, dance has remained the driving force of my life.”

I am convinced that dance has so much to offer. Beyond the wonder it inspires, it is a tool for reconnecting with one’s body, a powerful vehicle for education, a space for exploring collective experience, a gateway to spirituality, and sometimes even a path toward healing.

Driven by this conviction, in 2022 I founded the Hugo Marchand pour la Danse association, with the idea of bringing dance outside theater walls in order to share this magic with a broader and more diverse audience, by offering exceptional performances accessible to everyone at a single ticket price of €13.

This vision comes to life through the project Les Étoiles au Château. Several times a year, seven exceptional artists from the Paris Opera accompany me to perform in the courtyards and gardens of French castles, as well as other local heritage gems. For one weekend, these iconic places are transformed into sublime settings and, through the synergy between dance and music, become actors in the performance themselves.

These events also embody the strong social commitment of the association. They help bring dance to regions where it remains less accessible, reveal its richness, and affirm that women and men, female and male dancers, complement one another and share this art form with the same level of dedication and artistic passion. Thanks to the support of local authorities, we are able to welcome priority audiences at each edition and organize educational outreach activities for young audiences.
This commitment to transmission is intended for everyone. We invite you to visit the new educational page dedicated to the history of dance: OUR COMMITMENTS

To date, more than 20,000 spectators have attended Les Étoiles au Château performances across eight weekends. I am delighted that this adventure continues in 2026 with three new dates, aware that none of this would be possible without the loyal support of our patrons, the unwavering commitment of our volunteers, and the guidance of an experienced producer.
In 2010, Alexandra Cardinale, then a dancer at the Paris Opera, founded AC Opéra Ballet Production and launched the Gala d’Étoiles evenings. As a young dancer at the time, she offered me my very first opportunity to perform in one of her productions. Since then, we have shared a loyal and demanding collaboration. I am happy to carry this new project alongside her, united by the same love for dance and sharing.”

Hugo Marchand

Hugo Marchand began dancing at the age of 9 at the Nantes Conservatory. A few years later, he received the Conservatory’s gold medal and joined the Paris Opera Ballet School in 2007. He joined the Paris Opera Ballet in 2011.

He quickly rose through the ranks of the company and won the bronze medal at the Varna International Ballet Competition in 2014. He then received the Cercle Carpeaux Prize and the AROP Dance Prize in 2015, awards recognizing the young talents of the Paris Opera. Hugo Marchand was named Étoile Dancer on March 3, 2017, during a tour in Japan where he performed La Sylphide. That same year, he received the Benois de la Danse award in the category of Best Dancer of the Year.

In 2022, he created his non-profit association Hugo Marchand pour la Danse, driven by a desire to transmit knowledge and a strong social commitment. Through its projects, the association works to make dance accessible to a wider audience and to promote this art form in regions where it is sometimes less present. In 2023, he received a second Benois de la Danse award for his performance in Mayerling.
He performs the great ballets of the Paris Opera repertoire while also interpreting numerous contemporary works choreographed by William Forsythe, Crystal Pite, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Mats Ek, Angelin Preljocaj, Jiří Kylián…

He has been honored with the title of Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters, French Ministry of Culture.