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In this dance school, founded by Louis XIV in 1713, and run by one-time star ballerina Claude Bessy since 1972, the children strive to be among the privileged few accepted into the ballet company of the Paris Opera -two to four per year on the average. What price must they pay? What are the rules in this temple where authority, hierarchy and discipline find their implacable expression in the voice of the dance director, ballet masters, coaches, choreographers and in the penalties of the competitions, the nominations that separate the chosen from the rejected. This film traces the perilous path of students in the first division of the Paris Opera's Ecole de Danse. It follows the new generation of "premières danseuses" - Marie-Agnès Gillot, Claire-Marie Osta, Eleanora Abbagnato and Leatitia Puijol- who may win this year the coveted title of Danseuse étoile.

France - 2002 - 1 h 30 mn - Betacam SP • PAL - Colour

Director Jérôme Laperrousaz Camera Guillaume Martin Sound Jean-Luc Verdier Editing Delphine Desfons

Production Institut National de l'Audiovisuel, Sylvie Blum, 4 avenue de l'Europe, 94366 Bry-sur-Marne Cedex, France Tél : + 33 1 49 83 29 52 Fax : + 33 1 49 83 31 82 E-mail : sblum@ina.fr Co-Production Institut National de l'Audiovisuel, France 5, Opéra National de Paris

Sales Institut National de l'Audiovisuel, Michèle Gautard, 4 avenue de l'Europe, 94366 Bry-sur-Marne Cedex, France Tél : + 33 1 49 83 29 92 Fax : + 33 1 49 83 31 82 E-mail : mgautard@ina.fr