On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the film “Barbie in the Nutcracker”, with a new animated feature set to premiere on Netflix in November 2026, Barbie is teaming up with the Paris Opera to create an exceptional collaboration, with the Étoile dancer Dorothée Gilbert as its ambassador. To mark the occasion, a one-of-a-kind doll in the likeness of the Étoile dancer will be unveiled on November 18.

“The Nutcracker was a turning point in my career: it was this ballet that led me to become an Étoile in 2007. Being able to pass on this story and this dream today alongside Barbie holds a very special meaning for me.”
Dorothée Gilbert, Étoile dancer of the Opéra national de Paris

On November 18, 2026, Barbie and the Opéra national de Paris will offer young dancers an exceptional experience at the heart of the world of classical dance. Dorothée Gilbert, Étoile dancer of the Opéra national de Paris, will lead a class created especially for children, who will be introduced to ballet alongside this emblematic figure of the dance world.

Designed as a true immersion, this encounter will allow these young dancers to step into the shoes of the Opéra’s “petits rats” and explore a captivating discipline, while building self-confidence and creativity. Places are limited and will be available by registration through a prize draw/competition.

How to take part: From October 14 to 28 inclusive, parents of children aged 6 to 8 can register their child on the platform below and submit a short dance video of no more than one minute. The videos will then be reviewed by a jury, which will select the children invited to take part in the November 18 class. Results will be communicated to families in the following weeks.

This initiative is part of a broader partnership between Barbie and the Opéra national de Paris, centered on transmission. Under this partnership, Mattel Inc., Barbie’s parent company, becomes “Partner for the Transmission to Younger Generations” and supports the educational and training programs of the Opéra national de Paris.

This support also contributes to the institution’s expertise and cultural engineering activities, which aim to share and spread its know-how around the world, notably the academic style of the French School of Dance, by training young dancers.

This meeting of two worlds, united by a shared desire to introduce people to dance, pass on its values and encourage everyone to dream big, finds its full meaning through this initiative.