Three extremely different and exhilarating programs inaugurate the Paris dance season. The first is a series of alternating creations called “Parts@Paris” at the Théâtre de la Bastille by Belgian dance superstar Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker accompained by 15 of her first generation dance school grads.
With an exceptionally long run from September 20 to October 21 as part of the Festival d’Automne, the event will celebrate Keersmaeker’s 20 years as choreographer and director since 1995 of the P.A.R.T.S. (Performing Arts Research and Training Studies) school in Brussels. Keersmaeker is without doubt one of Europe’s leading contemporary dance figures, and her unique works, always in collaboration with live avant-garde musicians, blend minimalist, mathematically-structured movement patterns, which play with weight, balance and fluidity.
The Pompidou Center/IRCAM will present two new solo works by contemporary dancemaker François Raffinot titled “On Line” set to Pierre Boulez’s “Anthems” and performed by Joanne Leighton, and “P. R.,” set to music by Luca Francesconi and danced by Patrick Rebus. Raffinot — who specializes in baroque as well as contemporary dance — has been IRCAM’s choreographic director since 1999. He has developed a highly personal style, which combines elements of these two seemingly opposite æsthetics.
Meanwhile on the other side of Paris, the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées features for the third time its gala event “Les Etoiles du XXIème Siècle.” The mixed program highlights over a dozen famous ballet and modern solos, pas de deux and pas de trois performed by some of the world’s most renowned dancers, such as Dmitri Goudonov (Bolshoi Ballet), Lucia Lacarra and Cyril Pierre (San Francisco Ballet), and Katherine Crockett (Martha Graham Company). Works include “Incense” by modern dance pioneer Ruth Saint-Denis, “Lamentation” (Martha Graham), excerpts from “Swan Lake,” “Don Quixote,” and John Neumeier’s “La dame aux camélias.”
As a brief sneak preview, don’t expect any surprises at the Opera, there will mostly be reruns, such as Roland Petit’s “Notre-Dame de Paris” and “Clavigo,” “La Bayadère,” “Coppélia” and “Don Quixote.” Keep an eye out later in the season, however, for guest company La Scala Ballet from Milan, and a creation — “Hurlevent” with étoile Kader Belarbi — inspired by Emily Brontë’s “Wuthering Heights.”
“Parts@Paris” (chor. Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker) Sept 20 to Oct 21 at 7:30pm and/or 9pm. Sun at 3:30pm and/or 5pm. Théâtre de la Bastille, 76 rue de la Roquette, 11e, M° Bastille, tel: 01 43 57 42 14
“On Line” & “PR” (chor. François Raffinot) Sept 20 & 21 at 8:30pm; Sept 23 at 6:30pm. IRCAM-Centre Pompidou, M° Rambuteau/Hôtel de Ville, tel: 01 44 78 48 16
“Les Etoiles du XXIe Siècle” September 22 & 24 at 8pm; Sept 23 at 5pm. Théâtre des Champs-Elysées , 15 av Montaigne, 8e, M° Alma-Marceau, tel: 01 49 52 50 50
