Marie Gicquel 6:45 a.m., May 25, 2022
After two years disrupted by the pandemic, the most confidential cultural institution in Paris, the Opéra Garnier, is fully reopening its doors to the public, who can attend ballet lessons occasionally and free of charge.
For this occasion, spectators can admire the romantic ballet Giselle.
The show starts well before the hour: while the public settles down, the dancers, hands on the bars, warm up.
This morning class is essential to their demanding routine.
Their teacher, "generous and benevolent", as he is described by his students, the former dancer Andrey Klemm arrives, followed by Louis Lancien, the pianist accompanying the ballet.
"An awesome experience"
A few exercises at the bar, place at the pointes, then the pirouettes and the end of the jumps.
Faced with an intimidated public, which before so much grace is afraid to applaud and disturb.
"Applause is not forbidden, on the contrary!" Encourages the professor.
"It's not like in the army, but a bit anyway, you have to be very precise, very focused".
His eye observes everything "from the arms to the fingers".
A good dancer, he explains, "is a dancer who comes to class!"
A conquered public and delighted dancers, like Amélie Joannides, quadrille with the corps de Ballet for ten years: "It's a great experience! Usually, we present ourselves with rhinestones and tiaras and there, we appear to the public a lot by being more vulnerable. The muscles are tired, we have dark circles and then we miss, we start again, but without pressure".
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Drop the preconceived ideas
Forget the strict teacher and the spirit of competition, this open course also allows you to break down preconceived ideas.
"These are old clichés! We all know how difficult this profession is, I held on thanks to the friendship and support of the company", says the young dancer.
Once this course, which invites all ranks, from stars to dancers of the body, the soloists of the company run in rehearsal: the bodies are still hot and sweating.
On the program: the romantic ballet Giselle, which tells a story of impossible love and spells that condemn these accursed to dance until exhaustion... This mythical ballet is presented in June, with rhinestones and tiaras this time!