cygneblanc

About an ventuel lack of talent: this isn't the case at all. And Estelle, four of the best girls weren't there in Lyon because they were dancing the Swan Lake in Paris.. -about the permanent contracts offered at the external competition: Yes, Miss Bessy complained a lot about that, and although she was having a lot flaws, at least she was fighting for her pupils and their interests. I'm under the impression that Miss Platel doesn't fight for her pupils but she's still a young director and I guess her personality isn't as strong as the one of Claude Bessy. Personnaly, I'm not in favor of that policy, because I think permanent contracts, at least for the quadrilles positions, should be given only to school pupils. But I also believe there should be a possibilty for giving some permament contracts to others dancers but only for some highest positions. But that would be a revolution! Miss Lefebvre has already said in some interviews she believes it's good for the compagny to have a diversified recruitment. I disagree with that, because the main characteristic of the corps in Paris is its unifomity (or used to be ?). You can see the work of the corps isn't as good it used to be under Noureev, and it has to do to my mind with this diversified recruitment. And it has also to do with the relations between the school direction and the POB one, which aren't as strong as they were in the past. There are also some financial reasons. It's cheaper to offer some temporary contracts, and you can break them or not renew them easyly, which you can't do with the permanent positions..I believe there will be fewer and fewer quadrilles permament positions in the next years.. On the other side, the school costs a lot of money to the state, and the fact that the POB direction seeks dancers elsewhere is adressed, because legally the task of the school is to provide dancers for the POB.. Then, I agree totally with Estelle on students education but I'm afraid it's something that's easier to say than to do.. And Bart, you're right about the policies. Unfortunately, I don't think there is only a one will to have another strong ballet compagny in France now, and that's sad

Estelle: 1) About the lists: -for the internal competition, every student of the "1ere division" usually take part, unless they're so much injured they can't dance -for the external competition, there isn't a public list published, but every pupils of the school that didn't get a position at the end of the internal competition usually compete, and a lot of former pupils too. If you watch the results of this year (only 14 names are provied), you'll see that 13 of this names belong to current or former pupils (including Fanny Gorse, Marina Guizien, Beryl de Saint sauveur, Marine Ganio).. 2) about being allowed to repeat a year in the schoo: Sorry, for the misunderstanding. Students must not turn 19 before december 31. That's mandatory. Then, they aren't generally allowed to repeat the first division more than one time, unless exceptionnal circumstances (cases of Lauren Levy and Marie-Astrid Casinelli), but the decision belongs to Miss Platel; According to the written rule, they can repeat the first division as the meet the age requirement. What I have wanted to say is that students that aren't repeating their year and are offered a temporary contracts usually choose to stay one more year in the school.. More later..

Well, Bart, as for the pressure, in the american context, I would rather compare it with the pressure put on some kids of alumnis of a particular Ivy Leage University that are expected to be accepted in that University and get rejected. Another documentary that was broadcasted in France and abroad through TV5 called A l'école desEtoiles (In the school of principals) featured the moment where the kids got the results of the internal competition. That was heartbreaking

Well, there are two competitions each year in june. One said "internal" and the other said "external". Only pupils of the POB 's school last class (1st division) can try out for the internal competition in which only permanent positions are offered. If you get one of these position, then you have a job at the POB until you get retired at 42. Everyone, including pupils of the school, you and me, can try out for the external competition in which one year contracts, and sometimes permanent positions are offered. Pupils from the school that aren't given a position after the internal competition are trying to get a one by taking the external competition to get either a one year contract or a permanent one. Several cases can exist for students after the external competition: -they won a permanent position and get into the compagny -they'are offered a temporary contract but weren't repeating their year in the first division: they will repeat a year in the school in order to be able to try out again for the internal competition. They can't do this if they're going to turn 19. - they'are offered a temporary contract and were repeating their last year in the school: they accept the contract or choose to go elsewhere -if they aren't offered a contract: they have to look for a job, in France or abroad. What is assesed here in France is the fact that some permanent positions are offered in the external competition to some dancers that aren't from the school while the field of the school is very deep and there aren't a lack of talent at all in the school and that so few permanent contracts are available. And yes, the competition fill the same place in the lives of the students as the promotion competition for the corps members. They 're only dreaming of the POB and have been formated since their childhood for this day. For them, not being accepted into the compagny is a complete disaster, which is very sad

Valentine Colasante and Yann Chailloux won the second competition today. Congrats to them , All our thoughts are with the ones who weren't that lucky, especially Beryl de Saint Sauveur.

Amandine Albisson-Pivat and Matthieu Botto, both pupils of the POB school, won the first competition (the ones for POB's school pupils. Kudos to them

A very interesting season, and some far better choices than one year ago! For me the highlights will be La Fille Mal Guardée, The Lifar 's works, La Dame aux Camélias and the Kabuki..

No, Estelle I haven't seen him yesterday because his partner was Aurélie Dupont (and I'm not a fan of her dance, so I elected to go some others performances) but I saw him the day before during the general rehearsal and I have to say he was quite good, but it was only a rehearsal and you can't expect the same level of showing since it's only a rehearsal.. This is the second nomination of a man in a very short time, and I'm a little worried of the impact of these nominations on the women's ones. I mean, Dorothée Gilbert was brilliant, and she deserves a promotion to the etoile position. And what of the youngest ones ? Theorically, there won't be some women spots available until Miss Lestetu's departure, and it won't be before long so... But kudos to Hervé Moreau!

Hervé Moreau has been promoted to the "etoile" position yesterday after the first performance of "la Bayadère". That's well deserved Congrats to him !

What a fascinating subject ! You may be interested in reading the writings of the french dancer Mireille Negre, who was a POB principal and quitted that position to becoming a carmelite nun, then left her convent and now is a consecrated virgin (I'm not sure this translation is accurate..) You could also read a book by Janet Lynn Roseman called Dance was her religion, the spiritual choregraphy of Isadora Duncan, Ruth Saint Denis and Marta Graham. La danse et le sacré (in french!) by Elisabeth Zana could be a short introduction to a larger subject. Both Maurice Béjard and John Neumeier have spoken of their religious beliefs which may be found in some of their choreos. And there is also a french PhD which can be found in the Ste Genevieve library on philosophy and dance ! Please if you have enough time keep in touch with us !

Ludmilla Pagliero is from Argentina, and she 's a full time member of the compagny but I guess she can't be a civil servant due to the fact her country doesn't belong to the European Union. She may have an unlimited contract.. Estelle, the POB could hire some foreign etoiles, because the rules for the etoiles are different in the sense that the etoiles aren't considered as civil servants while being in the etoile position. Just a matter of law.. And for the surnuméraires: some of them have a one year contract and some others have some shorter contracts.. it's just a financial matter.. Personnaly, I think it would be great for the french audience to have more foreign guests, especially some etoiles. Maybe a foreign director of dance would be a good idea.. Nureev was a foreigner, and we all know what the POB owns from him. His legacy is priceless...

For those of you who didn't like Scaramouche, could you please explain us why ? And what did you think about the overall level of the kids ? And why did you like Péchés de Jeunesse ? Thanks a lot in advance

Actually, some girls are both "surnumeraires" and pupils of the school. Things were different until three years ago when I think the first case was Laurene Levy. Since, some girls who are in their second year in the first division have sometimes been dancing in the corps, especially in the largest works. I think the problem isn't that there aren't enough healthy dancers for one production but rather a general problem of management...

The Swan Lake, january three, 2006: Marie Agnes Gillot was an amazing swan with some wonderful arms. Her white swan was better than the black one, which was very good though. Don't miss her if you have the opportunity to see her, she's brilliant! Nicolas Leriche showed his excellent technical skills. Unfortunately, his spirit seemed to be everywhere but on stage and he lacked his usual brilliance and generosity. Rothbart was Stephane Phavorin. He's a very convincing actor, but his dance suffers from a big lack of amplitude. The corps de ballet, especially in the swan parts, was great and very steady . I would like to congratulate the girls from the school who are dancing in this production of the Swan Lake. You couln't tell they weren't from the compagny if you didn't know it. They demonstrated they deserve to enter the compagny in june. Otherwise, the pas de trois of the first round was quite strange since the technical level of the ladies (Aurelia Bellet and Dorothée Gilbert) was so different. I noticed in this round a much improved Mathilde Froustey, who's dancing more and more like a woman and not as a little girl and a smiling Aubane Philbert... The dances of the third round were great and the "fiancées" were delightful. Ludmilla Pagliero was just too much, it wasn't appropriate. The enormous potential of the very young Amandine Albisson was clearly visible, it's a shame she didn't get a spot in the corps de ballet the last year. I really hope she'lle be luckier this year. Laurene Levy was excellent too and I'm sure we'll hear her name more and more very soon! As an ending, I just had a blast !

Aubane is the very youngest of the POB's corps, she's turned 17 in november. Her choice for her second variation was a very difficult one and yes actually she was very tense and didn't show us what she can do. But she has an enormous potential and is a very-well rounded and delightful young lady with a strong temper. I really hope she'll blossom in the next few years if the POB let her become what she can be. And Mathias Heynman, 18, who by the way was luckier than Aubane, is a one to watch, too

Well, about an eventual lack of personality of the younger generation, I don't think they're encouraged to show what they can really do. But some of them, especially the youngest ones, have some very strong personalities, and if they were quite tense during the competition, I'm sure they will show us what they can do very soon if they're given some opportunies, maybe in the Young Dancers bills ?

Yes, jllaney it is a competition only for POB dancers which is held each year in december. The dancers are competing for some better positions in the POB's hierarchy and the winners are promoted to the next level. The number of slots available for each level varies from year to year and from level to level.

Koshka, it varies from years to years but you'll have 60 to 90 minutes for lunch. You can have a quick meal at the Mac Donald or in a place selling junk food. Hélène, I read you'll attend the Bompart trophy. A tip is expected from the Bercy ushers, and they will tell it to you. I think tips are forbidden at the POB

Benjamin Pech is now an etoile. Congrats The links is saying he has been choosen in China (the POB is on tour here) during a night where he danced Albrecht with Aurélie Dupont. http://www.opera-de-paris.fr/Accueil/alire.asp

Well, the site was broken down for a while but I have been able to get some tickets at 4 PM (French time) for the demonstrations. Koshka, I think it's worth to have a look at the website several times each week (I'm doing that) and you may find the tickets you wish. It has worked for me several times, even if it's saying at one time it's sold out.

My Mom took me there several times when I was quite small, but after when I was involved more and more in figure skating there wasn't a lot of time for shopping. I have some memories from the store though. It was really something. I have an autographed book from Miss Cournand that was bought here and I was quite proud to have it ! But I have never been to the conferences

Yes, Estelle, the bookstore closed in the late 1990, in 1994 I think but I may be wrong. There is a bookstore in the Saint Germain Des pres area that have some rare dance books (it is in the street you take to go to the Institut de France) but it's very expensive and with the online selling, you can find everything they have at a very reasonable price.

Well, Paul, I saw the final dress rehearseal, so I will stay general: I was expecting much more than what I saw. I have loved everything I have seen from the SFB until now, especially their Othello the last time they came in Paris. Firstly, I just would like to say that I have some mixed impressions because of the surroundings. There is just a very small outdoor stage which don't allow ellaborate sceneries, the weather was quite cold for the season the last few weeks, and the version of DQ that the SFB gave to Paris has had to be shortened for the Paris' performances because the show is beginning at 9.30 PM and has to be finished at 00.00 AM due to public transportation. So I don't wish to speak too much of a production that I couln't see under its usual settings. As far I'm concerned, it's appearing that DQ is a too big production for such a small stage. It is just a waste. THis compagny deserved a much better stage and a real theater! It is very difficult to put some names on the faces of the dancers, since they didn't give us the casting that wasn't announced either. I was amazed by the excellent work of the corps de ballet. It has a very good discipline, which lacks cruently to the POB now. There are some wonderful individualities, too although I can't name the dancers. I feel sorry for them. I think Nicolas Blanc danced Basilio, Tina LeBlanc (but I'm almost sure at 50% I'm wrong) Kitri and Muriel Maffre the Queen of the Dryads. I'm under the impression this production has an american tone we don't find in the NUreev's production I'm used to but that doesn't mean it is bad. It is just different and some moments are really funny.

Yes, the picture is the one you posted. Thanks for the infos

I will attend a Don Quixote performance the next week and I can't wait ! Would someone know who is the dancer who is on the advertisement that is on almost every walls of Paris ? She has some incredible feets. The weather is warmer now, and it isn't raining anymore. I hope it will stay the same !