The Paris Opera has learned with profound sadness of the passing of Marie-Thérèse Jaccard, whose career was closely intertwined with Maurice Béjart, the Béjart Ballet Lausanne and the history of our institution.

Marie-Thérèse Jaccard joined the Béjart Ballet Lausanne in 1995, at Maurice Béjart’s invitation, when he appointed her as his secretary. For twelve years, until the choreographer’s death in 2007, she became one of his closest collaborators.

She subsequently chose to continue her commitment to the company, working alongside Gil Roman from 2008 onwards, then Julien Favreau from 2024. She placed her experience and intimate knowledge of the Béjart Ballet Lausanne at the service of the successive generations who have carried it forward. As Secretary of the Maurice Béjart Foundation since 2008, she accompanied the company throughout its history and became one of its most precious keepers of memory.

For the Paris Opera, Marie-Thérèse Jaccard was an essential point of contact. With unfailing dedication to the stewardship of his works, she accompanied Maurice Béjart into the studio during his visits to our company, attended every rehearsal and generously helped foster an ideal working relationship between the choreographer and the Paris Opera Ballet. A strong personality, she remained a passionate and steadfast guardian of the artistic ties that connected the choreographer to our company’s repertoire.

The Paris Opera extends its sincere condolences to her family, loved ones and all those who worked alongside her at the Béjart Ballet Lausanne and the Maurice Béjart Foundation.