The Black Prince of Sweden

From slavery to royalty: a powerful ballet meets real history in this behind-the-scenes documentary starring Guillaume Diop.

Behind the doors of the Royal Swedish Ballet, a forgotten true story comes to life. The Black Prince of Sweden follows the creation of Gustavia, a bold new ballet based on the extraordinary life of Couchi, an enslaved African boy who became a prince at the Swedish royal court.

At the heart of this cinematic documentary is French ballet star Guillaume Diop, the first Black Étoile at the Paris Opera Ballet, recently seen at the 2024 Olympics opening ceremony. Through Diop’s powerful embodiment of Couchi, history is not only revisited but reimagined on stage.

Filmed from the first rehearsals in Stockholm to the world premiere in October 2024, the documentary offers rare access to the creative process of a major international ballet production. Interwoven are excerpts from Couchi’s own writings and expert commentary on Black European history, offering a layered narrative that blends performance, memory, and identity.

This is not just the story of a ballet, it’s the reclaiming of a legacy.

English title The Black Prince of Sweden
Genre Documentary
Production year 2025
Duration 52'
Video format HD
Production Company Elzevir Films
TV Director Henrik Hellström
Distribution TV Auditorium Films