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The Princess Grace Dance Academy: the petits rats of Monaco

The Princess Grace Academy trains professional dancers to be part of major international companies tomorrow.

The Academy opened in 1975 at the Villa “Casa Mia”. Inspired by the Russian ballet, Princess Grace and Prince Rainier III wished to create a premier dance school, laying the groundwork for the establishment of a company. The Academy was first directed by the Russian dancer Marika Besobrasova, who, until the age of 92, taught future big names in dance, such as François Klaus, a principal dancer at John Neumeier. The Academy has welcomed many prominent figures in ballet; Rudolf Nureyev came to work there regularly, as did Eva Evdokimova, Marcia Haydée and Yoko Morishita. Luca Masala became the Academy’s new director in 2009.