Olivier Py's 'La Bal(l)ade de Nijinski' Explores the Dancer's Inner Turmoil at Théâtre du Châtelet

Olivier Py directs 'La Bal(l)ade de Nijinski' at Paris's Théâtre du Châtelet from May 29 to June 5, 2026, focusing on the Russian dancer's later years rather than his early fame. The production centers on the period after Vaslav Nijinski's withdrawal from public life, when he wrote his introspective Journal. Bertrand de Roffignac portrays Nijinski's internal monologue, accompanied by pianist Guilhem Fabre. Py deliberately avoids recreating the legendary leaps that made Nijinski famous after his 1909 Paris debut with Serge de Diaghilev's Ballets Russes. Instead, the performance conveys movement through text, breath, and silence. Nijinski's descent into schizophrenia is captured at its precipice. The piece presents not an icon but a consciousness on the verge of collapse. Tickets range from 10 to 35 euros for the run at 1 Place du Châtelet.