Ballet and Dance Companies in France
Find out everything about dance in France, from information on some of the best French companies to dance auditions in France.
“To follow, without halt, one aim: There’s the secret of success.”
Anna Pavlova
France & Dance
France is considered the birthplace of ballet. The first ballet was performed in the 15th century in the Italian Renaissance court of the Duc de Berry.
The first professional ballet company was the Royal Academy of Dance. It was founded in 1661 in Paris by the French king Louis XIV, and there were codified the five positions of classical ballet. In the 18th century, French ballet master Jean-Georges Noverre wrote ballets that told stories and had subjects from everyday life, rather than the allegorical plots that were common at the time. This was a departure from the traditional ballets of the time, which were often set to Louis XIV’s favourite operas.
The first ballet school in the world was the Paris Opéra Ballet School, founded in 1713. The Paris Opéra is the oldest continuously running ballet company in the world, and it has exerted a significant influence on ballet. Many of the greatest ballet dancers and choreographers of the last hundred years have been associated with the Paris Opéra, including Marie Taglioni, Carlotta Grisi, Polina Semionova, and Rudolf Nureyev. The Paris Opéra Ballet School is also famous for its annual productions of The Nutcracker and Swan Lake. These ballets are based on stories that originated in France, and they have become two of the most popular ballets in the world. Many ballet companies across the globe perform these ballets every year, and they are a key part of the ballet tradition.
The first ballet was performed in 1715 and the first ballet company outside of France was the English Royal Ballet, which was founded in 1734.
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Did you know that…?
Some popular French folk dances include the branle, bourree, farandole, gavotte, and mazurka.
The Best Dance Institutions in France
Ballet Preljocaj dance company at Aix-en
Le Pavillon Noir, 530 Av. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, 13627 Aix-en-Provence, France
Le Pavillon Noir, 530 Av. Wolf...
Cie Stylistik Abdou dance company at Lyo
Collectif La Machine, 7 Rue Justin Godart, 69004 Lyon, France
Compagnie Blanca Li dance company at Par
Métropole 19 | RIVP, 134 Rue d'Aubervilliers, 75019 Paris, France
Dance School Manon Contrino dance compan
7 bis, Rue Jean François Revollier, 42000 Saint-Étienne, France
Emanuel Gat Dance dance company at Istre
Maison de la Danse, 2 Chem. de la Combe aux Fées, 13800 Istres, France
10-14 All. Claude Forbin, 1310...
La Baraka Cie dance company at Annonay
Studio Chorégraphique Chapelle Sainte-Marie Résidence Jeanne 2 1, chemin des Terres, 07100 Annonay,
11 Rue Dupont, 26500 Bourg-lès...