Monaco’s renowned Princess Grace Academy is celebrating its 50th anniversary, marking five decades of shaping young dancers into international professionals. Established in 1975 at the initiative of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier III, the school was founded to provide elite dance training under the direction of Marika Besobrasova and has since become a global reference in pre-professional ballet education.
Since 2009, under the artistic direction of Luca Masala, appointed by Princess of Hanover upon the recommendation of Jean-Christophe Maillot, the Academy has enhanced its focus on preparing students aged 13 to 18 for careers in leading dance companies worldwide. Integrated into the structure of Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo alongside the Monaco Dance Forum, the Academy now forms a key pillar in the Principality’s cultural landscape.
The anniversary season launches on December 19 with a special performance at the Grimaldi Forum’s Salle Prince Pierre, featuring works created for the Academy over the past 16 years by some of the dance world’s most celebrated choreographers.
Further events include a collaborative project with Monaco’s Pavillon Bosio art school, held from March 26 to March 28 at the Atelier des Ballets de Monte-Carlo, where four student choreographers will create new works on the theme of education. The season will culminate in the annual gala on June 19 to 20 at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo’s Salle Garnier, featuring fresh interpretations around the ballet Giselle.
This academic year, beginning Monday, September 8, the Academy welcomes 53 students from 19 different nationalities. Over a four-to-five-year curriculum, they will receive rigorous training in classical, contemporary, and character dance, choreography, physical preparation, music, and dance history, alongside their academic studies delivered by correspondence.
The teaching team of six permanent instructors is complemented by an array of internationally recognised guest choreographers and coaches. Together, they continue to uphold the Academy’s mission: to nurture exceptional young talent and ensure Monaco remains at the forefront of the global dance stage.
