About Bertrand Barena & the Floor Barre CD

                        Bertrand Barena began at the Paris Opera Ballet School in 1966 at the age of 8.  In 1974, after 8 years of training, he was accepted into the Paris Opera corps de ballet.

                        Over the course of 24 years, he was fortunate to work with some of the greatest choreographers of our time and in particular, Nureyev, who was Bertrand Barena’s maitre in terms of his approach to and understanding of the stage.  Bertrand Barena participated in all of Nureyev’s creations for the Paris Opera.  He was also very influenced by great dancers such as Cyril Attanasoff, Charles Jude, and Vassillev who helped him truly understand what being a dancer means.

                        In 1992, he earned his diploma in teaching from the Paris Opera School.  His mentor was Serge Golomine who taught him the art of teaching.  He then began to prepare his second career by teaching ballet to adults at the Jeanine Stanlowa Institute in Paris where he continues to teach today, and in 1997, by miracle Claude Bessy recruits him to join the greatest ballet school in the world.  She takes him under her wing and his dreams turn into reality.  After 31 years of pursuing his passion (1966-1997), Bertrand Barena comes full circle; from petit rat of the Paris Opera School, he becomes a professional teacher and starts a new life....

                        “After 20 years of barre au sol, I realized that there was not anything for nonprofessionals that would allow them to train their bodies like dancers, without the constraints of the dancing profession.  Along with my friend Laurent Choukroun, pianist at the Paris Opera Ballet School, we had the idea to create a floor barre for the professional, amateurs who want to stay in shape, enjoy themselves and strengthen their bodies in the same way that dancers do."