Our Mission & History

For over 35 years, the American Friends of the Paris Opera & Ballet (AFPOB) has proudly supported the Paris Opera & Ballet, sharing its rich cultural heritage with the American public and fostering artistic partnerships with renowned American artists, singers, ballet companies, and directors. Our mission is to celebrate and promote the art of opera and ballet, as well as French culture and heritage, in the United States.

Our History

Founded in 1984, AFPOB was born out of a request by Rudolf Nureyev, then the Director of the Paris Opera Ballet, to tour the company in the United States. With the guidance of David Rockefeller and the support of esteemed individuals such as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Lee Radziwill, Estee Lauder, Henry Kissinger, and others, the organization was incorporated and recognized as a 501(c)3 tax-exempt foundation in 1985.

Over the years, AFPOB has played a crucial role in bringing the Paris Opera & Ballet to the United States, underwriting numerous U.S. tours, international exchanges, and collaborations with American artists and companies. Our organization has also provided scholarships and exchange programs to support the development of talented young dancers and singers.

Major Dates

1983: Rudolf Nureyev becomes the Director of the Paris Opera Ballet and launches the company's international outreach program.
1984: The American Friends of the Paris Opera & Ballet is founded in response to Nureyev's request to tour the company in the United States.
1986: The Paris Opera Ballet performs at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
1987, 1993, 1996, and 2012: The Paris Opera Ballet Company tours the United States, performing in multiple cities.

Since then, AFPOB has continued to play a pivotal role in promoting French culture and the arts in the United States. Our organization has brought together some of the world's most renowned artists and companies, including the San Francisco Ballet, the Paul Taylor Dance Company, and the Merce Cunningham Dance Company. We have also collaborated with esteemed institutions such as the Metropolitan Opera and the Kennedy Center.

Our mission is to continue promoting cultural exchange, artistic innovation, and the celebration of French culture and heritage in the United States. We invite you to join us on this journey, supporting our efforts to bring the best of French opera and ballet to the American public.

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