The Paris Opera Ballet has always been an integral part of the Paris Opera, which was founded in 1669 as the Académie d'Opéra (Academy of Opera), although theatrical dance did not become an important component of the Paris Opera until 1673, after it was renamed the Académie Royale de Musique (Royal Academy of Music) and placed under the leadership of Jean-Baptiste Lully.

95 percent of the admitted dancers in the Paris Opera Ballet are French. For a dancer to enter the Paris Opera Ballet, it is almost compulsory to be admitted to the Paris Opera Ballet School, to pass the annual competitive examinations in May, and to attend at least the final two classes. The competition for admission to both institutions is extremely fierce. The school celebrated its tercentennial in 2013. Its former pupils have won a record of 20 Benois de la Danse awards. Just as prestigious as the Paris Opera Ballet is its dance school, the Paris Opera Ballet School (French: École de danse de l'Opéra national de Paris), considered to be one of the world's best dance schools. The principal dancers give 180 dance performances each year, primarily at the Palais Garnier. The ballet company consists of 154 dancers, among them 17 Danseurs Étoiles.

The position of director of dance is currently vacant, but José Martínez is scheduled to take up the post in December 2022. It is still regarded as one of the four most prominent ballet companies in the world, together with the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow, the Mariinsky Ballet in Saint Petersburg and the Royal Ballet in London. It is the oldest national ballet company, and many European and international ballet companies can trace their origins to it. The Paris Opera Ballet ( French: Ballet de l'Opéra national de Paris) is a French ballet company that is an integral part of the Paris Opera.

Dancer at the paris opera ballet