In the maze of this historic building, there is excitement a few hours before the curtain rises on Thursday afternoon, with a ballet of boys and girls going up and down the floors to go to the hairdressing, make-up or suits.

Girls make their slippers more flexible by chaining jumps on the spot or raised points, others help each other to put on make-up or adjust a bun, ornaments or fake jewellery.

In December, the students certainly took the stage for the first time in two years, but to present "Les Démonstrations de la danse", an annual meeting where they show the public the repeated exercises in progress.

"We missed it"

This time around, the excitement was at its height for this two-hour show which continues until Saturday.

Under the gilding of the Foyer de la danse, located in the extension of the stage, Rémi Singer-Gassner and Elizabeth Partington, 17, do warm-ups.

For this evening composed of three short ballets, they are distributed in "La Somnambule" by Balanchine and "Symphony in three movements", a contemporary piece with music by Stravinsky.

"We had almost forgotten what it felt like to rehearse at the School (located in Nanterre, editor's note) in the morning and to come here... We missed contact with the public", comments Rémi.

The students of the Paris Opera School of Dance reconnect with the euphoria of the stage STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN AFP / Archives

He is in the first division, the last year of training in this establishment, heir to the "Conservatoire de la danse" created in 1713 by Louis XIV.

"It was hard to rehearse every day and not have done a show for two years. It's easy to forget the end goal: to be on stage and have fun," adds Elizabeth.

"It makes you dream" of dancing at Garnier, she adds.

On the set, Yann Saiz, former dancer at the Opera and teacher at the School, makes final remarks to a student, while further on, ballerinas spy on the room which is filling up through the hole in the curtain.

"I think we did a good job upstream, in the studio, to prepare them to face stage fright, because for some it was the first time on this stage", underlines the professor.

"War Symphony"

Elisabeth Platel, director of the School and former star dancer, speaks of "rebirth" in opposition to the "tear" in 2020, when the students were preparing to present the ballet "Coppélia", two days before the first confinement.

"At the rehearsal on Monday, when the students heard the applause in the room, it gave them strength," she said.

The students of the Paris Opera School of Dance reconnect with the euphoria of the stage FRANCOIS GUILLOT AFP / Archives

On the set, she takes care of the smallest details and reminds us of the importance of this passage on stage, especially for the students of the 1st year who aspire to join the Ballet de l'Opéra, if they pass the end-of-year competition.

For this big return to the stage, she wanted a program with very different styles, with the highlight being "The Symphony in Three Movements" which particularly resonates this year.

"It's a symphony of war," says Ms. Platel.

"Previous generations (who) danced it, weren't as aware of it as this year's students. When (choreographer) Nils Christe came in March, just after the invasion of Ukraine, there had a heavy climate, a great seriousness, at the same time as this joy of finding the teams of the Opera".

"We can express more easily what the ballet wanted to tell at the base because of the news", assures Irina Chiriacescu, 17 years old.

© 2022 AFP