The Paris Opera’s International Dance Schools Gala

Some of our students had the opportunity to participate in the Paris Opera International Dance Schools Gala, held in the historic Palais Garnier on 17 April.

Pre-professional Year students Ravi Cannonier-Watson, Emile Gooding, Rebecca Stewart, and Katie Robertson represented The Royal Ballet School beautifully, and performed excerpts from Frederick Ashton’s Rhapsody.

This gala gave young dancers across the globe a chance to come together in an iconic institution, fostering connections worldwide and enriching their journey towards a career in dance. Rebecca shared her experience:

We participated in the Paris Opera’s International Dance Schools Gala, which brought together schools from across the globe. We spent a few days at the Paris Opera Ballet School Studios, and towards the end of the week, we performed at the Garnier. We had the opportunity to take classes on stage and rehearse in the studios there, followed by rehearsals and performances.

Emile reflected on his favourite moment from the trip:

It was a truly special experience. It was our first time at the Garnier, and dancing on stage there was incredibly beautiful. It felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and knowing the historical significance of the stage left us all in awe.

The chance to connect with ballet students from around the world was appreciated by the students, according to Ravi:

We stayed in the dormitories with students from other schools attending the gala. It was nice to have the opportunity to interact with them outside of our performances.

Another memorable aspect for Emile was participating in the Grand Défilé:

We had the honour of participating in the Grand Défilé, a Paris Opera tradition, where we walked down the steps. It was a meaningful experience for us, and it was special for us to represent London and The Royal Ballet School on stage in Paris.

Beyond the performances, Ravi appreciated the chance to explore Paris:

It was my first time in Paris, and it was wonderful to have the opportunity to sightsee outside of classes. We visited iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe.

Congratulations to the students who participated in the gala and represented The Royal Ballet School.