The school of little dancers

If you found yourself around 1:30 p.m. in the courtyard of the Opera, you were able to see a group of well-behaved schoolgirls arriving, two by two under the leadership of a lady dressed all in black, with their books and their notebooks under my arm. These are the little students from the dance classes who go to the daily choreographic gymnastics lesson.

In 1919, Mr. Jacques Rouche. director of the Opera and Mr. Lafferre, then Minister of Public Education, founded, in agreement with the Municipal Council, the primary school for Opera dancers, future dancers rather, because the girls in the dance classes can only be hired at the National Academy of Music if they have their primary education certificate. The Opera School was established in a school in the City of Paris, thanks to the good care of Doctor Maréchal, mayor of the 8th arrondissement who is very interested in this institution.

Also, every day, at 9 a.m., the little “rats” go to the school on rue de la Ville-l’Evêque where their teacher, Ms. Caillé, awaits them. The lesson lasts until 11:30 a.m. Most of the girls have lunch at school, then, under the guidance of their teacher, they go to the Opera to take their daily dance lesson. I must tell you that the students in the dance classes are divided into two divisions. While one of these divisions is having its first entrechats under the expert eye of Miss Mercedès, the other is going to class.

Because the Opera contains a small school. Oh, not too long ago. Previously we settled in as best we could in a corridor, on the steps of a staircase. hunched over the heaters, and in this improvised Academy, we studied the great facts of French history. Today we have a beautiful classroom, decorated with a blackboard and wall maps. It is a desk that the copyist of the scores, Mr. Portal. very kindly made available to Ms. Caillé. The architect of the monument. Mr. Patrouillard had the walls washed and repainted. Little by little the room was furnished with tables, chairs and benches: the light gray painted walls were decorated with some engravings.

The little students chipped in to buy wall maps and to this concern for work is added a concern for elegance. The little girls have just collected money among themselves to buy a bust of Pasteur. Isn't that lovely. Around a large table the students who have not yet gone on vacation are seated. One of them reads a text and Ms. Caillé asks questions.
— Was it during the retreat from Russia? — When the Russian campaign took place. .…
— Under the reign of Napoleon I. - In which year ? — In 1812! replies a kid. - Alright! keep going! — during the retreat from Russia.
We worked very well this year, so there will be many prizes. The solemn distribution will take place on July 20, at the Salle Gaveau at least for the “big ones” of the first division; the “little ones” of the second division will receive their prizes on the 28th, in the courtyard of the school on rue de la Ville l’Evêque. Six students sat for their school certificate and all six of them passed, one of them even, with honors, Mile Sarabelle.
They are Miss Suzanne Jequier, Suzanne Sarabelle, Paulette Riché, Esther Ravine. Denise Legrand and Reine Struïl. Well done ladies!
To reward them, we showed them yesterday the museum and the library of the Opera. Mr. Antoine Banès, the very kind curator of the library, archives and museum, greatly regretted not being able to guide these little people himself through the wonders and memories in his care.

Mr. Blondot, administrator of the Opera, served as cicerone. We were ecstatic in front of the models of the sets, particularly in front of the sets where we had appeared, the portraits and busts of dancers were entitled to more attention than those of the composers, the decorations of Meyerbeer and Charles Garnier however excited respectful admiration, we felt sorry for the charred remains of Emma Livry's tutu and we contemplated with covetousness the wax dolls, sumptuously adorned with 18th century stage costumes. But the gramophone was heard, warning the “good bourgeois of Paris” that it was time to return to their homes, to the tune of the Huguenot curfew, sung by Mr. Delmas. And we went through the maze of stairs and corridors towards the little classroom where we quietly got back to work.

André Rigaud