Opéra national de Paris

With more than 350 years of history behind it, the Opéra national de Paris offers a programme of opera and choreography of the highest level of excellence every season, at the Palais Garnier and the Opéra Bastille. The institution pursues three fundamental missions: creation – the beating heart of its activity -, openness to all audiences – through an accessible pricing policy, dedicated artistic and cultural education programmes, tours and performance broadcasts – and the transmission of its knowledge and know-how – helping to enrich a shared heritage, notably through its Academy, which welcomes singers and instrumentalists in residence, and its Dance School.

In 2024, the MAD Foundation supported the Ecole de Danse de l’Opéra national de Paris in organising the Gala des Écoles de Danse du XXIème siècle, which was held on 17 April at the Palais Garnier, in front of an audience of some 1,800 people. This international event brought together the ‘little rats’ and students from 7 of the world’s leading dance schools: Canada’s National Ballet School (Toronto), the Dutch National Ballet Academy (Amsterdam), the Scuola di Ballo dell’Accademia Teatro alla Scala (Milan), the School of the Hamburg Ballet John Neumeier (Hamburg), the San Francisco Ballet School, the Royal Ballet School (London) and the Royal Danish Ballet School (Copenhagen).

The guest students and directors were welcomed to the École de Danse for a week, and were offered a dedicated programme of classes and rehearsals, access to the performances presented during their stay, and the opportunity to take part in themed discussions on the future of dance teaching.

Opéra national de Paris in a few figures: