He began his training at the Opéra de Paris when he was nine years old and rose through the ranks of the school.
Upon the completion of his military service, he came back and successfully auditioned for a "Premier Danseur" (First soloist) position after only one week of training.
[4] Labis was regarded as having brought many technical innovations to the French school, including more acrobatic steps in solos and duets, and moving the foot higher to the "retiré au genou" (knee height) position for pirouettes, from the old "à la cheville" (ankle height) position.
He originated the role of Siegfried in the Vladimir Bourmeister staging of Swan Lake at the Paris Opera Ballet.
[5][6] Labis appeared in several films and television series, including L' Âge en fleur (1975), Le Spectre de la danse (1986),[7] and Les Cahiers retrouvés de Nina Vyroubova.