Time has stood still at the gates of Saint-Roch, this Thursday at 2:30 p.m.
The star's white coffin was hoisted between baskets of white flowers at the entrance to the church.
The tricolor was spread over it and the trumpet launched the solo of the
Strada
, composed by Nino Rota, for Fellini.
A complaint, but infinitely tender, infinitely dancing, that so particular of artists who give the best of themselves at the risk of losing themselves, and who find their way back, God only knows how.
Read also: Patrick Dupond, the enfant terrible of dance
Such was the tone of this ceremony organized by Leïla da Rocha, the “soul mate” of Patrick Dupond, who died at 61 years old.
The oriental dancer has been his companion for 17 years.
The announcement indicated it.
We accompanied the dancer on his
"flight to the stars"
.
White flowers were desired.
"No dress code required, just your elegance and your love"
, Leïla further specified.
SEE ALSO -
The star dancer Patrick Dupond is deceased, back on his career in five dates
The procession is organized.
Slowly, with the simple approval of kind-hearted people, friends, dancers, the family moved up the central aisle behind the coffin.
Leïla was holding Nicole Charles, the artist's mother, by the arm.
Francis Lalanne wore a heart of red roses.
The Bozzoni family, wife and daughters of Max, Patrick's master, the very moved Opera dancers, Elisabeth Platel, Piétragalla, Marie-Agnès Gillot, Kader Belarbi, Jean-Marie Didière whom Patrick, born only son, designated as his dear brother, Claude de Vulpian, Carole Arbo whom he had named star, Florence Clerc, Elisabeth Maurin, Claude Bessy, Cyril Atanassof… Friends, teachers, partners, upset to find each other without having seen the time pass, on the same boards as the star, but this time for a final farewell.
The students of the White Eagle Academy, a feather stuck in the bun or the pocket of their jacket, brought up the rear.
Leïla da Rocha had founded this school in Soissons with Patrick Dupond who had enough to pass on.
Read also: Patrick Dupond, star dancer who has become a darling of the small screen
Barely completed the welcome by Father Luc Reydell, chaplain of Saint Roch, the testimonies followed one another.
Marie-Claude Piétragalla the first came to the microphone, serious, concentrated, in dark costume, supported Julien Derouault.
The presence of her companion was necessary to support her in a committed and very personal testimony which celebrated the prodigy dancer as well, this child who came out of nothing and became director of the Paris Opera ballet, such a beautiful representative of the elite. Republican, and this man who knew in a word how to repair wounds and make people want to get back to the bar.
Nicole Charles, the mother of Patrick Dupond and Leïla Da Rocha is the last companion.
Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP
A second witness played the pages of The Little Prince where Saint-Exupéry celebrates the laughter of the stars.
A White Eagle dancer then recounted what
“this man who was at the same time a star, a school and a legend”
was able to transmit
“generosity and love”
to his students.
Aurélie Dupont, director of dance at the Opera, ended on the verge of tears, this first round of testimonies.
She had chosen to say how difficult it had always been for her to leave Patrick.
She nicely evoked their couple "Dupond and Dupont" on the stage and in galas at the end of the world.
The way he had taught her to dance and to live.
The risks he was taking and the fear she felt….
A friend read Saint Paul for the first letter to the Corinthians:
“If I lack love, I am nothing.
The priest spoke.
"At the origin of the star, there is the One who asked that there be light"
, he said before asking the assembly
"for gratitude to have seen Patrick live his art in the service of the light. "
.
He also recalled that
"God is the origin of all dance and that, in the same way that the dance of the stars revolves around Polaris, a fixed point in the sky, the dance is measured against a fixed point, Jesus on the Cross"
.
He finally recalled what
"it takes suffering and confidence to achieve this lightness of the body and the heart"
which make a dancer.
And to draw the comparison with the little child sent by God to save men.
“We met 22 million years ago, and 17 in this lifetime
,” said Leïla da Rocha.
I had the honor of meeting Patrick Dupond but I especially liked Patrick.
"
She testified on how together they had given their students, their friends, their family
" the desire to want "
.
“Today heart to heart, I accompany you to the firmament.
My Phoenix, you are there, I love you endlessly ”
.
Standing next to her, Francis Lalanne a cappella sang her hit:
Think of me as I love you
.
The first ranks blessed the body.
The others applauded as the coffin passed.
At her window, across the street, a neighbor was applauding alone. Roselyne Bachelot must have gone English around 4:30 p.m. We met outside, the showers marked the pause. Time was resuming its course. A large star was found hanging from the firmament. It was almost five o'clock.
