Education

The teachers

The Paris Opera Ballet School is the guardian of a core of precious knowledge: classic academic ballet. Although dancers today need to receive a wide variety of teachings, they must above all receive the heritage of this almost three-century-old oral tradition. That is why knowledge is passed down by three generations of teachers who guarantee the historical continuity of teaching.

Teaching

Ballet is taught at six levels. It is open to girls and boys. It is a multidisciplinary course which, as well as the different dance lessons (classic, character, contemporary, jazz and folk), offers additional lessons in music, mime, theatre, entertainment law, history of dance, anatomy and gymnastics. General teaching (national curriculum) is dispensed at the school from primary school to the baccalaureate (literary section). As long as the student is enrolled at the ballet school, he or she must continue to study, even after the age of 16.

The following are an integral part of the curriculum:

The "Défilé" of the corps de Ballet and the school

The Ballet School Demonstrations

The Ballet School Annual Show

These three events take place on the stage of the Palais Garnier in front of an audience. In some years, tours in France or abroad may be added.

Examinations and competitions

Teaching goes from the 6th to the 1st Division.

Course work during the year is marked, a quarterly report is sent to parents. Marks represent half the points needed to move up into the next division, the other half comes from the results of the end-of-year examination.

Students in the first division have priority recruitment to the Opera’s corps de ballet. An internal competition is organised for this. Candidates having passed the competition and satisfying the general training conditions join the corps de ballet as trainee “quadrilles”.

Students not joining the corps de ballet may remain at the Ballet School if they have not reached the age limit or leave it with an end-of-studies diploma.