PMDS was founded in 2012 by Maggie Boogaart, an international former soloist and choreographer, and by Ghislain de Compreignac, a former classical soloist.
PMDS combines classical ballet contemporary dance instruction and values both equally.
Amateur classes and pre-professional program
The school welcomes amateur children, teenagers and adults, as well as young pre-professionals aged 9 to 21. The same teachers teach both amateurs and pre-professionals, in separate classes, guaranteeing amateurs top-quality teaching and detailed explanations that enable them to make real progress.
Our techniques are up-to-date and prepare you to dance with ease and fluidity. The Balanchine technique brings a significant update to the classical ballet technique, with speed and brilliance. Graham technique is a fundamental foundation for contemporary dance, which we complement for amateurs with release technique and for pre-professionals with Limon, Cunningham and release techniques.
Junior Ballet
The Junior Ballet is open to students in their 2nd year of Undergraduate program. Some students are allowed to stay on for a 3rd year in the Cycle Supérieur to perfect their stage experience.
Dancers perform on stage in a theater about once a month. They explore the repertoire best choreographers, especially those of the companies they want to join.
Passion, pleasure, sharing the art of dance!
For all of our classes, regardless of the participant's level or goal, passion and enjoyment of dance are our top priorities. Even if you come as an amateur once a week to our classes to everyone, you will experience the joy of dancing, improving your skills, and developing your self-confidence.
Directors and Lead Teachers
Founders and directors : Maggie Boogaart and Ghislain de Compreignac International patron: Fernando Montano, former soloist with the Royal Ballet (UK)
In 2012, at the request of pre-professional students seeking training to prepare for auditions with dance companies, Maggie Boogaart and Ghislain de Compreignac organized a pre-professional teaching program. They then created classes younger pre-professionals, starting at age 9.
Their passion is to pass on their art to young talents who will be the stars of tomorrow. Boogaart and Compreignac are respectively recognized by the Martha Graham School in New York and Balanchine's School of American Ballet in New York.
Maggie Boogaart
Maggie Boogaart had an international career as a contemporary dance soloist. Trained at the CODARTS Conservatory in the Netherlands, then a graduate of the London Contemporary Dance School in London and the Martha Graham School in New York, she danced for numerous companies in New York, Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands. She founded her own company, where she served as choreographer and director for 16 years, and simultaneously taught for 12 years in major conservatories in the Netherlands. Since 2010, she has been based in France, where she received a double exemption from the State Diploma for contemporary dance teachers due to her renown and experience. Boogaart continues her creative work as an independent choreographer.
Ghislain de Compreignac
Ghislain de Compreignac had a career as a soloist with the Ballet du Nord (repertoire , directed by Alfonso Cata, former assistant to George Balanchine at the New York City Ballet); He also collaborated with Maurice Béjart (creating a pas de deux) and danced with the Ballet Royal de Wallonie and several leading French companies, including the Ballet du Rhin, Ballet-Théâtre Français de Nancy, and Ballet-Théâtre Joseph Russillo. With degrees in economics, political science, and art history, he then pursued a career in business, notably in the publishing, internet, and consulting sectors. He holds a state diploma as a classical ballet teacher. He teaches master classes and serves on the juries of international competitions.
Our vision: excellence, artistry, creativity
For pre-professionals in an international environment, with a highly personalized approach
Excellence
To train dancers of national and international level
The clear objective of the professional training program is to prepare young dancers to succeed in auditions in France and internationally. To achieve this, various aspects are developed: – a limited number of students, capped at 21 in total, to provide daily individual attention to each student; – the pursuit of technical perfection and performance, always balanced with artistic expression; – the development of human qualities, communication skills, and good professional practices; – knowledge of the artistic world and global dance companies.
Cross-training: Classical and Contemporary-Graham
The teaching is based on two major fundamental techniques: Classical and Graham (the foundation of contemporary dance). The combination of these two complementary techniques provides today's dancers with the richest foundation to pursue an international career with leading contemporary choreographers. It allows them to acquire a brilliant style, and to enhance their virtuosity, creativity, and stage experience. In classical dance, the technique taught is enriched by the principles of the Balanchine technique and new scientific knowledge related to intensive training. Regular instruction includes flow/release/contact techniques and contemporary improvisation. Guest teachers, coming from diverse backgrounds, regularly introduce other styles, techniques, and working methods that enrich students and improve their open-mindedness and adaptability.
Artistry
Artistic Sensibility and Interpretation
Technique without art remains a dead letter. The artistic development of each student is paramount. It requires a perfect understanding of the many artistic subtleties of classical ballet is achieved through the interpretation of repertoire , neoclassical, and contemporary repertoire and creative work. The program allows students to: • benefit from the experience and technical and artistic insight of teachers renowned for their artistic standards, precision, virtuosity, speed, and creativity • discover the benefits of combining the major techniques (Russian, Balanchine, Graham) • Discover the repertoires of Martha Graham and George Balanchine and the great choreographers of the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries.
Creativity
The program allows students to learn: • choreographic composition • improvisation • musical and choreographic analysis, to prepare dancers to collaborate creatively with choreographers and to create their own works.
