Académie de danse Princesse Grace opens with 49 students
By Zak Jackson, MonacoViews Editorial
Luca Masala begins his new academic year at the Académie de danse Princesse Grace with 49 students drawn from 22 nationalities.
The Académie de danse Princesse Grace has welcomed 49 students for the 2026-2027 academic year, with artistic director Luca Masala setting the tone for what he describes as a family-oriented approach to professional dance training. The cohort, drawn from 22 different countries, is supported by a team of around fifteen staff at the institution on Avenue de l'Annonciade.
Masala has spoken candidly about his leadership philosophy, saying he tries to be the director he himself never had during his own training. That ethos shapes how the academy operates day to day, with an emphasis on pastoral care alongside the rigorous technical demands expected at a school of this level.
The academy, founded under the patronage of Princess Grace in 1975, remains one of the most selective ballet schools in Europe. Places are fiercely competed for internationally, and the multinational character of each intake reflects both the school's reputation and Monaco's broader role as a hub for the performing arts in the region.