French Boys' Ballet Costumes: L'Ecole de Danse de l'Opéra National de Paris


Figure 1.--These French boys and girls are students at the L'Ecole de Danse de l'Opéra National de Paris. The boys wear light blue/grey tights and the girls short blue dresses.

The most prestigious ballet school in France is the Ecole de Danse de l'Opéra National de Paris. Boys can begin studing there at age 8 years. The young ballet pupils of the Paris Opera School are often refered to as "Les petits rats de l'opéra" (little rats). There are weight and height criteria. There are approximately 140 pupils at the School, the majority of whom are boarders. The boarding house is closed over week-ends and during all holidays. Academic studies are regarded as an integral part of the students' education. No student, boarder or not, may therefore be exempted from the courses provided by the Education Nationale on The School's premises in the morning from 8.00 to 12.00 am. The afternoon is devoted to dance. Non-French speaking students study French at an appropriate level. Dance subjects: Classical Ballet - Pas de Deux - Variations - Repertoire - Contemporary - Jazz - Character - Mime and Folk dances. Allied subjects: Dance History - Musical Expression and Singing - Solfège Corporel Gymnasium training (male students) - Anatomy -

Registration

The school is open to young students. Girls between 8 and 10 years and boys up to 11 can apply. The young ballet pupils of the Paris Opera School are often refered to as "Les petits rats de l'opéra" (little rats). HBC is unsure just why they are called this. Perhaps because someof the roles that small children are assigned. Auditions are held in December to access ability and physical aptitude for the training. Candidates retained take part in a 6 month course (january to june) after which a decision is made with respect to their admission to the School. Fees for 2000/2001 : 7 600 FF / for the 6 months, boarding included from sunday night till friday. For applicants between 10 and 11 1/2 (girls) and between 11 and 13 (boys) by December 31, the year of registration. Succesful candidates are required to follow one year of training in the following academic year (from September to June). Fees for 2000/2001 : 7 100 FF per term. Registration between Deptember 1 and November 6, 2000. Registration between September 1, 2000 to February 9, 2001. Instruction at the School is free of charge (apart from boarding). Each year is devided into three terms. Boarding fees are payable strictly in advance.

Weight and Height Criteria

Girls: 8 years (min. 1m32 - 22 kg and max. 1m35 - 25 kg). 9 years (min. 1m35 - 25 kg max. 1m38 - 27 kg). 10 years (min. 1m38 - 27 kg and max. 1m42 - 29 kg). 11 years (min. 1m42 - 29 kg and max. 1m50 - 34 kg). Boys (no maximum height): 8 years (min. 1m34 - 25 kg and max. 28 kg). 9 years (min. 1m38 - 28 kg and max. 31 kg). 10 years (min. 1m40 - 37 kg and max. 37 kg). 11 years (min. 1m50 - 40 kg and max. 42 kg).

Boarding

There are approximately 140 pupils at the School, the majority of whom are boarders. The boarding house is closed over week-ends and during all holidays.

Academic Studies

Academic studies are regarded as an integral part of the students' education. No student, boarder or not, may therefore be exempted from the courses provided by the Education Nationale on The School's premises in the morning from 8.00 to 12.00 am. The afternoon is devoted to dance. Non-French speaking students study French at an appropriate level.

Course Information - Syllabus

Once admitted, teaching is graded over six years, with pupils divided into six divisions for girls and six divisions for boys. There is a gradual increase in the difficulty of the class : the beginners of the sixth division concentrate above all on "placing", in the fifth division the girls begin point work at the barre, and after six years of training the pupils of the first division are expected to be able to perform a variation from the professional repertoire. At the end of each year, the pupils take an examination to decide whether they move up to the next class, remain in the same class, or leave the School. The pupils of the advanced class (1st division) participate in an internal competition, after which the are admitted to the Paris Opera's Corps de Ballet, according to the number of places available. Pupils who have not be admitted leave the School having obtained their final dance certificate, which usually permits them to be quickly engaged by other companies.

Curriculam

Dance subjects: Classical Ballet - Pas de Deux - Variations - Repertoire - Contemporary - Jazz - Character - Mime and Folk dances. Allied subjects: Dance History - Musical Expression and Singing - Solfège Corporel Gymnasium training (male students) - Anatomy -

Summers

The Paris Opera Ballet School offers no summer classes.

Applications

Parents apply directly to the School by sending a curriculum vitae, a recent photo in dance pose, and a video tape of a class, at the barre and in the centre. The School will audition pre-selected candidates. The Paris Opera Ballet School offers no summer classes. Application forms and details of auditions are available from: Ecole de Danse de l'Opéra Secrétariat de la Danse 20, allée de la Danse 92000 NANTERRE

Foreign Students

The Paris Opera Ballet School in 1987 opened a special section for foreign students, of 14 till 15 years of age who wish to perfect their technique after training elsewhere. There interships are paid for, and take place over on to two years. Working knowledge of French is required. Participation in all courses offered by the School. All students follow the compulsory general school programme and can be lodged at the school. Students entering under this special category are not allowed to present them selves at the internal competition to join the Paris Opera Ballet. Fees for 2000/2001 : FF 55.500 (from September till the end of June) covering dance classes, accomodation and meals from Monday till Friday - payable in advance at the beginning of each term. Each year is devided into three terms. No scholarships are available for foreign students.

Guardians

Parents of foreign students must nominate a guardian living within the Paris metropolitain area whom the School can contact in case of emergency, and to whom the pupil can go during week-ends and School holidays.

Performances in 2000-2001

December 16-17 to January 28, 2001 (two sessions per day): "Les Démonstrations": They are not intended to be "performances" but rather a presentation of the different classes (classical ballet, points, jumps, variations, adagio...) as well as character, folk dance and mimie. The first session is devoted to the younger students' classes and the second to the advanced level. April 28-30 to May 3-4 & 6, 2001: Annual Performance. Coppélia : musique de Leo Delibes d'après Arthur Saint-Léon, chorégraphie Albert Aveline, décors et costumes d'après les maquettes de la création (1870). Yondering : musique de Stephen C Foster et chorégraphie costumes et lumières de John Neumeier (1996).

Costume

The practice costume worn by the boys is a short white dance shirt, tights, white socks, and black dance shoes. think that the tights used by the boys in POBS are grey or a blue/grey. These were the standard costumes. There were of course special cistumes for some performances. A reader tells us, "The Ecole of the Paris Opera Ballet did a documentary: "Les Enfants de la danse". The male students wear gray tights and shoes. The school has them wear a type of t shirt. The POB has them wear a type of leotard, white, v-neck, 3/4 sleeve. Jose Carlos Martinez choreographed Scaramouche for them. Ms. Letetsu did the costuming."






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Created: 11:08 PM 5/15/2005
Last updated: 4:22 PM 2/24/2007