Inside The Studio with Domitille Ledouble: Classique Attitude in Dubai

After more than thirteen years of running a successful ballet school in Aix-en-Provence, the founder of Classique Attitude, Domitille Ledouble, brought her vision to the United Arab Emirates. Classique Attitude Ballet Dubai officially opened in January 2024, with the goal of sharing classical ballet as a universal language of balance, discipline and self-expression.

To support this vision, Domitille selected a Harlequin Flexity sprung floor topped with a Harlequin Studio performance surface for the Classique Attitude studio, ensuring dancers train in a safe, professional environment that builds confidence and supports long-term wellbeing.

We spoke to Domitille to find out more about her journey and her goal to bring French classical ballet teaching to a new generation of dancers in Dubai.

What does Classique Attitude aim to bring to its dancers and community?

My mission is to make dance a lever for balance, inclusion and shared beauty, by building bridges between cultures, generations and life paths. I aim to transmit dance as a universal language, an art of living and a path to self-discovery.

Can you tell us how Classique Attitude started?

It all started on stage, when I won a gold medal in classical dance at a conservatoire in France and spent a few years with the Toulon Opera Ballet. My childhood dream was coming true, until another much greater role came along, which was becoming a mother. I was 17 when my son was born, and my dancing career came to an abrupt end.

After stepping away from the stage, I pursued a career in business, working for over a decade in sales and technology while raising my son. During that time, I discovered another art: human relationships. Listening, precision and responsiveness were values I learnt through dance and were then applied throughout my business career.

Dance, however, never truly left me. In 2008, I returned to the barre and trained as a state-certified ballet teacher, and in 2010 founded Classique Attitude in Aix-en-Provence with a clear vision to make classical dance accessible to everyone. In 2012, this spirit of innovation led to the creation of Aqu’Attitude, an aquatic ballet concept designed for injured dancers, people in rehabilitation or those who believed movement was no longer possible for them.

Thirteen years later, driven by the same philosophy and inspired by the UAE’s growing cultural landscape, I began a new chapter in Dubai.

How does Classique Attitude use dance to support communities and inclusive initiatives?

Very early on, I felt compelled to explore how dance could support people living with illness, disability or specific conditions. For more than ten years, I volunteered with cancer patients and witnessed how movement, breathing and body awareness could become powerful tools for resilience and healing. In the centre where I worked, dance was recognised and integrated as a complementary therapeutic support.

In November 2024, I had the honour of participating in an inclusive musical in Dubai, bringing together nearly 50 artists with sensory or cognitive disabilities, including autism and learning disabilities. This project, led by an international team, demonstrated how creativity and passion can transcend limitations.

Alongside this work, my annual Gala Evenings have always been conceived as genuine encounters between dance, heritage and other art forms. In France, these events welcomed an average of 800 spectators and helped position Classique Attitude as a unifying cultural force. My first Gala Evening in Dubai last year brought together a community of 200 people, united by a shared passion for dance as a way of life.

What made you want to install a Harlequin sprung and vinyl floor in your dance studio? 

I first learned about Harlequin when I heard that the Paris Opera installed Harlequin flooring. I then wanted to have Harlequin floors in my own studio because respect for the body and mind is, for me, the foundation of all learning. Safety and confidence are essential for dancers at every level.

How has working with Harlequin supported your teaching and your dancers?

I would like to express my deep gratitude for the exceptional quality of Harlequin’s professional dance floors and mats. Not only are they perfectly suited to the wellbeing of our students, but they also attract other dancers to our school who come to work on pointe in complete safety and confidence. The precision, comfort and respect for the body that this floor provides are unmatched, and it plays a key role in the excellence of our classes.

Thank you again for your support and for creating a product that combines performance and safety, and which promotes dance!

What is your favourite thing about teaching dance?

Beyond technique and the beauty of movement, I pass on the universal values of classical dance: discipline, high standards, humility, respect and openness to others.

These values have guided me throughout my life, and I continue to share them in Dubai, where cultural diversity makes every exchange even richer. What makes me most proud is seeing dance become a language through which students learn about life itself.

Whether they are children, adults or seniors, my students discover much more than an art form. They experience patience, effort, self-awareness and respect for others. For me, a successful life means passing on values that transcend the stage and nurturing free, upright and authentic individuals.

What are Classique Attitude’s plans for the future?

Our ambition is to offer our students a range of classes accompanied by professional pianists, creating an even richer and more vibrant artistic experience. We would also welcome collaborations with dance accompanists considering a move to Dubai.

Dubai is home to a magnificent opera house, yet it does not currently have its own permanent ballet company, so I would also love to contribute my expertise to help establish one and enrich the local arts scene.

Image credits: Classique Attitude