How I got into Danse-Études 📝👑

So in France, both Voldemort and Miss Marianne (my teacher at the second studio) told mommy about the Paris Opera school and how I could consider trying out. Yes, THE Paris Opera. OMG. 😱 Let’s just say my sweet sweet little mommy was NOT thrilled 🙅‍♀️ — which works out fine, because I also do not want to move out, and I am not sure I want to become a ballerina at Paris Opera. Do they even play Nutcracker? Me and my mommy, we will ALWAYS stay together. 💞 That’s not negotiable, that’s the foundation of the whole operation.

But France, to its credit 🍪, has this thing called danse-études. School in the morning, serious dance every afternoon, and they have it in the school located like five minutes from my home. You get to dance every day AND stay at home with your family, AND go to normal school, not just with kids doing dance, AND get a diploma — like a real diploma in choreography or something official-sounding. 🎓 More dance, normal school, my mommy, and a diploma? Perfect for me. Literally designed for me. I checked for my name in the brochure. 🔍

To get in you need two things. One: an entrance exam that’s basically a dance class at the conservatoire with more than just your teacher watching — which, great, because I am REALLY good and I REALLY enjoy it when more people watch me dance. 💃 The more the merrier, literally. Just give me a stage and a large audience. Two: a “lettre de motivation” (a.k.a. motivation letter). THAT was the best part, because I got to write about ME and adults were required to read the whole thing. 📜 I opened with: “Hello. This is Gigi. I think I should go to danse-études because I am good at danse and at étude (“hi, hi”).” Airtight logic. Did NOT remove the “hi, hi”. Devastating opener. I got in. Easy peasy lemon squeezy. 🍋 I’m sure they LOVED my letter. Framed it, probably. 🖼️

I showed my letter to my friend Capucine and she got inspired — she was hesitating at that point, but upon reading the masterpiece, felt like she too had to apply, and now we’re in the programme together. 👯‍♀️ Capucine is a bit extra, but you know me, I like drama, and she was my first friend at the conservatoire, so she’s MY extra. 💖 Margaux, on the other hand, said my letter was “prétentieuse” coz it said everything that I was really good at. Girly. I am literally trying to get them to CHOOSE ME. That is the entire point of the letter!!! Sorry not sorry. 💅 This happens a lot, actually — girls telling me I’m “narcissistic”, all because when I look in the mirror I say “my god, I’m so pretty” (coz I am, you know 😌), or because I do a little shuffle dance in the vestiaire singing “I’m so pretty, I’m so cool” 🎶. Girlies. Listen. I have never once said I’m prettier than YOU. Start loving yourselves and stop waiting for someone else to say you’re pretty. 💝 This advice is free and it’s the best thing on this website.

The audition itself? Honestly, not as scary as auditions in China, where they’d teach you steps for five minutes ⏱️ and then you went ONE BY ONE in front of everyone like a tiny gladiator. 🗡️ Here it was just a normal class, a bit shorter, with people watching. And you know I slay, so, no worries there. One judge said “you look really happy” and I was like “yeah, dance, captive audience, what’s a girly to ask for?” ✨

Then the results came out, and I got in of course, top grade in classic, slay the house down. But you will not believe what happened. 🫢 Pretty much my whole conservatoire class auditioned, plus three or four girls from outside. Almost everyone got in… except one girl from the conservatoire. What the hecky????? 😳 Why take everyone BUT her? Maybe she wasn’t quite ready — honestly I couldn’t tell you, I focus on my own pretty self, front row, biggest mirror space. I’m so the main character. 👑 But she was definitely not the ONLY one not quite ready, if you see what I mean. 👀🙃 be properly selective, OR take everyone motivated enough to survive the process. Pick a lane, adults, the alternative is just mean 🛣️(see what I did there? Told you I am not a dumb dumb).

So, too bad so sad. But back to pretty me 🐷. I’M in. 🎉 Capucine’s in. Margaux is in. The programme starts in September and I have a diploma to earn and a front-row mirror spot to defend. 🪞