the essential
Marcel Zeller and Romane Laury, two talented students from VM Ballet in Toulouse, were selected to participate in the show Prodigies Season 11, where Romane reached the finale. This participation illustrates the growing reputation of the school, which regularly trains brilliant young dancers and helps to promote dance to a wide audience.
Their names are Marcel Zeller and Romane Laury. These two students from VMBallet, in Toulouse, were selected to participate in the show Prodiges Season 11, currently broadcast on France 2. One of the two (Romane) was even selected for the final which will take place on 2 next January. Great pride for the VM Ballet of Toulouse which trains them. Moreover, the Toulouse school is almost getting used to seeing its students shine on television and on world stages.”
Located at 78 chemin Lanusse, in the Croix Daurade district, this classical dance training center, founded in 2004, by Vinciane Ghyssens and Matthew Madsen, regularly sends candidates to this program, the only one in the service
public to highlight classical singing, dance and music through a competition whose performers are carefully selected young talents aged 9 to 16.
“Fifteen of our students reached the final, five won the title of Dance Prodigy and two won the title of Prodigy of the Year,” announces Vinciane Ghyssens, who keeps the accounts. The latest being Charlie Keffert, crowned Prodigy 2023. We also find him in season 11 in a solo in William Tell. And before him, there was Melvin Lawovi, Prodigy 2015. Each time, it was Matthew Madsen who chose the students and prepared their applications. This former dancer from the Ballet du Capitole designs personalized choreographies for each person “intended to bring out their greatest qualities in the student. And thereby give them confidence”.
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This year, Vinciane and Mattthew are lucky enough to have Marcel Zeller and Romane Laury, two very talented students, in their classes. Marcel is in third year, he has just turned 14, “he is very sensitive, on edge”. As for Romane, 16 years old, “he is hyper invested, studious in his work and very constant. This is his fourth year at VM Ballet” underlines Vinciane. Both were selected to participate in Prodiges. For the VM Ballet, this televised competition “is a huge showcase for our school and the work of our teams. It brings us notoriety. We have been participating in the show for ten years, we are starting to be well known”, recognizes Matthew Madsen, coach, choreographer and co-director of VMBallet. Marie-Claude Pietragalla, who is part of the show’s jury, has just hired “two local boys in her company”, he adds, not a little proud.
For Vinciane, this show is a window on culture. “It gives the opportunity to a very large number of people to discover our art. Potentially, that many people can come and see the dance shows and we greatly need this for the future of our profession and for all young people that we form,” she insists. “And for the kids, it’s a super enriching experience. They stay in touch once the show is over,” rejoices Matthew.
