Élisabeth Platel Dancer

Elisabeth Platel started dancing at the conservatoire of St Germain-en-Laye then followed Christiane Vaussard’s class at the National Conservatoire of Paris. Her National Conservatoire first Prize in 1975 granted her the admission to the Ballet School of the Opéra national de Paris.

Hired in the Corps de Ballet in 1976, and then promoted to “Première danseuse” in 1979, she was finally nominated “Danseuse Etoile” at the end of her first Giselle on December 23, 1981. Until 1999, her farewell in the Sylphide, she is the soloist of all great classical choreographers including George Balanchine, John Neumeier and especially Rudolf Nureyev for whom she created numerous productions. She has been awarded the Prix Benois de la danse for her lifelong achievements and in particular for her role as ambassador of the French school throughout the world. Whilst continuing to perform as a guest Etoile, the need to pass on her art and take a more global outlook rapidly became vital.

As a guest teacher both in France and abroad, Elisabeth Platel also revived ballets and coordinated State Diploma studies for the Paris Opera's Corps de Ballet.

In September 2004, she became director of the Ballet School.