This Saturday evening, the “Star Academy” makes its comeback for a new season marked by change. New teachers, new mechanics, and new rooms within the castle of Dammarie-les-Lys, which is preparing to reopen its doors, 20 years after the victory of Grégory Lemarchal. A few days ago, we had the opportunity to visit this emblematic place, where future students will evolve for several weeks. Karima Charni, co-host of the talent show and former candidate for season 4, was in charge of the visit. “Last year, I was very moved to find the castle. This time, I am excited and can’t wait for the students to discover the new pieces,” she tells us.
The first new room is the foyer, where students can meet, relax, but also rehearse. “It’s a work room, but with a quieter vibe. This is where the singing room used to be,” Karima tells us. If the dance room still occupies the same place, it also retains the famous purple table behind which the teachers will evaluate the students. The singing room, where students will be able to work on their voice with Sofia Morgani, the new vocal coach, is now located right next to the theater room, mainly occupied by its teacher, the Belgian Hugues Hamelynck. However, the principal’s office, occupied by Michael Goldman, and the public room, where students answered questions from their fans, no longer exist.
For the third year in a row, it is to Joséphine Gad, renowned interior designer, that we owe the decoration of the academy. After around fifteen years as an assistant to the set designer Stéfanie Jarre, the daughter of Michel Drucker, the young woman took off and developed independently in order to create the sets for television shows, such as “ The Voice” or “Dancing with the Stars”. Tackling the famous castle of Dammarie-Les-Lys is a real challenge for her. “It’s not always easy to re-invite yourself season after season,” she admits.
Modern and retro atmosphere
This year, each piece has the watchword… color! “We have a color code to follow so that viewers can easily identify which room the students are in. This time we wanted brighter, more distinct colors. Last year, a graphic line crossed all the rooms of the castle. This time, we opted for another visual approach, with hatching, particularly on the living room wall and the kitchen floor,” explains Joséphine, who started fitting out the premises only three weeks ago.
An atmosphere that is both modern and resolutely retro emerges from each of the rooms. In the living room, a large teal blue sofa, yellow seats, multi-colored cushions and several disco balls create a unique atmosphere. In the kitchen, we discover a large oval table surrounded by multi-colored stools, as well as neon lights. If the girls’ bedroom is distinguished by its mauve and pink hues, the boys’ dormitory is decorated in burgundy and orange tones.
Helena’s secret word
Another emblematic place: the toilets, whose walls are covered with words from former students of the “Star Academy”. We obviously looked for Héléna’s, and we found it. “Thank you for everything, I am so proud to have made it this far and so happy to have shared these moments with you. See you all on tour, friends. I love you all, except one. Kisses,” the Belgian wrote before leaving the castle.
On the other hand, the mystery remains regarding the place where the confessional is located, this secret place where the students express themselves in front of the camera about their experience at the castle. Last year, following his elimination, a former candidate (whose name we will not mention!) admitted to us that the confessional was set up on the second floor. This part of the castle is accessible through a double-locked door located on the landing, between the boys’ and girls’ bedrooms. But shush, it’s a secret!
