Benjamin Millepied’s Unique Challenge at Roland Garros

The renowned choreographer Benjamin Millepied faced an intriguing task: crafting two short dance performances for the championship matches at Roland Garros. This involved creating a new dimension to the finals, elevating the atmosphere before the women’s final on Saturday and the men’s on Sunday.

Millepied encouraged his dancers to envision a tennis court as they practiced, emphasizing the importance of space. “Remember you can’t touch it!” he reminded them as they executed their movements over an imaginary net. With Rosalía’s song “Reliqua” as their soundtrack, the dancers were urged to expand their performance to match the expanse of a tennis court.

The initiative came eight days before the climactic weekend of the French Open. The tournament, which traditionally includes opening ceremonies for the final matches, sought something more theatrical this year. According to Millepied, Mauresmo, a significant figure at the Open, desired bold and substantial dances to enhance the event’s grandeur.

Millepied, who hails from France, sees a natural connection between tennis and dance. He remarked, “Tennis is an art of change of direction, as is dance,” underscoring the synergy between the two disciplines. This angle served as inspiration for the performances, promising an engaging prelude to the major sporting event.