School History
In the early sixties, international Principal Dancer
Rosella Hightower and her family settled in Cannes
Marquis de Cuevas’ adopted city. That is where she wanted to create the school she had been dreaming of for many years.
Her ambitions were high : to welcome passionate dancers from all cultures and nationalities, and to train them at a professional level.
A mile away from Cannes’ famous Croisette, the International Dance Centre Rosella Hightower opened its doors in Septembre 1961, in collaboration with former dancers from Marquis de Cuevas’ Ballets. In a matter of years, the school became a unique dance education centre in the world where students experienced flexible school schedules, i.e they attended formal classes while being provided with daily choreographic education. Tuned in to the evolution of dance, Rosella Hightower was always looking for modern and multidisciplinary approaches within her school.
Cannes solidified its status as a resort for a growing number of dance personalities
Antonin Dolin, Serge Lifar, Rudolph Noureev or Maurice Béjart came to the « Centre » to train, rehearse and teach. Summer intensives enabled dancers from around the world to come and learn from the greatest teachers.
Early in 2001, Rosella Hightower handed the direction of her school to Monique Loudières whom she had appointed Etoile in 1982 while she was directing the Paris Opera Ballet.
Paola Cantalupo took over the school in 2009 to resume and update the educational project of its founder.
The main stages in the history timeline
