Responsible for passing on the French tradition, the Paris Opera Ballet School explores the classical and contemporary repertoire as well as academic or modern styles with an equal striving for excellence. Following the celebrations for the Tricentenary of the French School of Dance, this new programme tackles the Danish School with Conservatoire by Auguste Bournonville, official choreographer for the Royal Danish Ballet in the 19th century. Whilst drawing inspiration from the French repertoire, which he studied in Paris with Pierre Gardel and Auguste Vestris, Bournonville brought new life to the romantic ballet by restoring the balance between male and female roles with his “poetic tribute to his Parisian apprenticeship” (Sylvie Jacq-Mioche). Almost a century later, a 21-year-old choreographer was making his debut on the Parisian stage: Roland Petit. His first major ballet, Les Forains, a joyful yet melancholic evocation of the world of travelling entertainers and a metaphor for the artist’s condition, is being revived by the Ballet School. Ten young dancers succeed one another in as many short variations, which are in turn humorous or dream-like. The programme concludes with John Taras’ fantasy ballet Piège de lumière. This magical story recounts an encounter between a group of escaped convicts and creatures that are half-human, half-butterfly.