Biography

After studying at the Paris Opera School and at the Conservatoire de Paris, he graduates with first prize and works with Noureev and Master Yves Brieux.

In 1999, Julien Lestel joins the Marseille National Ballet, under the direction of Marie-Claude Pietragalla, as a soloist. The same year, he dances the part of Paris in Rudi Van Dantzig’s Romeo and Juliet ; he also interprets Jiri Kylian’s Nuages, which he dances with Marie-Claude Pietragalla, and Voyageurs d’Innocence by Claude Brumachon.

In 2000, he dances Vita by Marie-Claude Pietragalla, Strange Waltzes by Richard Werlock and interprets the part of Albert in Eric Quilleré’s choreographic adaptation of Giselle. In October 2000, he incarnates Paul Claudel in Marie-Claude Pietragalla’s Sakountala. In May 2001, he dances the leading role in Tzigane and interprets Jean de Brienne in Raymonda. The same year, he takes part in Rui Horta’s Flat Space Moving and Marie-Claude Pietragalla’s Fleurs d’automne. He is also the soloist in William Forsythe’s Approximate Sonata at the Theatre Silvain, he interprets the part of Albert in the choreographic adaptation of Giselle by Marie-Claude Pietragalla, he also performs the role of Prince Siegfried in Marie-Claude Pietragalla’s choreographic adaptation of Swan Lake based on Marius Petipa.

Before joining the Marseille National Ballet, Julien is a member of the Monte-Carlo Ballet and performs works by Balanchine, Neumeier, Kylian, Roland Petit, Uwe Scholz, Massine and Fokine. Then, he joins the Paris National Opera corps de ballet under the direction of Patrick Dupond and dances great ballets of the repertoire. He also dances Balanchine, Roland Petit, Serge Lifar, Massine, Nijinska, Nijinski, Fokine.
His parts in Frederic Ashton’s Rhapsody and in Les Soirées Jeunes Choregraphes attract much attention. Angelin Preljocaj chooses him to dance in his creation Le Parc, Jean Grandmaitre in Ejamater, and Pina Baush in Le sacre du Printemps. In 1998, Heinz Spoerli appoints him soloist at the Zurich Ballet, and he dances his creation Eine Lichte, helle, feme. He also dances the pas de deux of Herman Shimmerman by William Forsythe and takes part in Heinz Spoerli’s choreographies, such as Farben or Goldberg variationen, but also takes the role of Paris in Romeo and Juliet.