Dancing in the Attic of the Paris Opera House in 1930

In 1930, LIFE magazine photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt was given access to the sacred world of the prima ballerina at the Grand Opera de Paris. He sat in on a rehearsal for Swan Lake, photographing the dancers doing their barre exercises, perfecting choreography, as well as capturing the girls at ease, standing around chatting or looking out over Paris from those fabulous round windows.

Here’s some of amazing photographs taken by Eisenstaedt...

(Photos by Alfred Eisenstaedt/ LIFE photo archive, via Messy Nessy Chic)