Paris Quartier d’Eté
For people who are in the city in July and August, this fest has always provided a welcome relief. This year’s program pays tribute to Merce Cunningham, celebrating the 50th anniversary of his venerable modern dance company with his creation titled “Event for the Palais Royal,” and a second work dubbed “How to Pass, Kick, Fall and Run?”. Along with the Lyon National Ballet, the fest also spotlights another American dance company, run by Elizabeth Streb. If the weather’s nice, the performance space, set up outdoors in the Palais Royal’s beautiful leafy courtyards, within steps of the rue de Rivoli — is a wonderful way to spend an evening after a stroll through the nearby Tuileries Garden.
Elizabeth Streb Company, “Actionheroes” and “Streb Go” — July 23-25, 10pm/Mats Ek and the Lyon National Ballet, “Carmen” and “Solo for Two,” July 30 to Aug 2 , 10pm/Merce Cunningham Dance Company, Aug 12-14, 10pm, Palais Royal Gardens, info and reservations: 01 44 94 98 00
Paris performances
“Le Concours” (chor. Maurice Béjart) June 15, 19, 22, 25, 26 & 28 at 7:30pm, June 16 at 3pm, July 1, 2, 4, 5, 8-12 & 15 at 7:30pm, July 14 at 3pm (free matinee performance). This year, Maurice Béjart gets the honor of closing the Opera season, crowned by a free Bastille Day matinee performance. This marvelous production, which has become a neo-classical must, is a satire of the cruel world of ballet contests, with all its stress, jealousy and pettiness. Béjart weaves into his work an Agatha Christie-like “who-done-it” edge. The most promising young ballerina/contestant is assassinated, and, of course, the most unlikely of the six suspects is finally caught. If you want to attend the July 14 show, make sure you get in line the night before. Opéra National de Paris-Palais Garnier, Paris Opera Ballet Company, pl de l'Opéra, 1er, M° Opéra, tel: 08 92 69 78 68
“Agua” (chor. Pina Bausch) June 18-30 at 8:30pm, July 23 & 30 at 5pm. After Madrid, LA, Hong Kong, Lisbon and Rome, Europe’s most cherished movement muse, Pina Bausch, does Brazil this year. Each year, her perception of life in a major capital that subsidizes her work is transposed into a magical dance-theater production, enhanced by her special flair for the absurd and the unusual. Théâtre de la Ville, 2 pl du Châtelet, 4e, M° Châtelet RER A-B Châtelet-Les Halles, tel: 01 42 74 22 77
“La Fleur du désir” (chor. Monica de La Fuente) June 23 at 4pm, July 24 at 9pm. The DTM season closes with “La Fleur du désir,” a show that combines two Indian dance traditions, Bharata Natyam and Kathakali, and explores the themes of love and violence. This studio-theater is one of the last non-commercial performance spaces in Paris where you can get a full theater experience — like in the days of New York’s Judson Church. Danse Théâtre & Musique/Studio Théâtre, 6 rue de la Folie Méricourt, M° St-Amboise, 11e, tel: 01 47 00 19 60
“Dominique Dupuy/Passeur de Solitude II” June 26 at 7pm & June 27 at 8:30pm. Dominique Dupuy and his partner/wife Françoise Dupuy have been major figures in French modern dance for more than four decades. This program/work in progress is a rare occasion to witness how this discipline — and, especially the solo dance form — is passed on from generation to generation in a studio setting. Studio CND, 15 rue Geoffroy-l’Asnier, 4e, M° St-Paul, tel: 01 42 74 06 44
compiled by Carol Pratl
