Portrait of Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker: a world reference in contemporary dance
Belgian Flemish artist, teacher, dancer and choreographer Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker is a...
Renamed Montpellier Danse 40 bis, following the rescheduling provoked by the Covid19 pandemic, the 40th edition of the Montpellier Danse festival will take place exceptionally from 19 September to 28 December 2020. In the form of several rendez-vous, the festival invites us to return to the theatres and will offer 20 pieces versus the 23 initially scheduled.
Along four decades of existence, we have lost count of the prestigious artists such as Ohad Naharin or Emmanuel Gat, which the festival has contributed to showcase on the international stage.
Among all these brilliant artists, the name of Dominique Bagouet founder of the festival, shines brightly.
Since 1983, Jean-Paul Montanari has headed up and developed the festival of Montpellier with brio.Thanks to the eclectism of its lineup, Montpellier Danse has opened up to an even larger audience, while remaining artistically demanding. From a public of journalists and professionals from various countries, the audience has grown to also attract enthusiastic amateurs, mainly from the city of Montpellier and its surroundings, all of whom were conquered by this festival which spreads from the Corum and its
2 000 spectators, to the free public representations given on the city plazas and beyond.
Thanks to the partnership signed in 2012 with the BNP Paribas Foundation and renewed 5 times since, the artists in residency are hosted in the former Ursulines convent, now headquarters of Montpellier Danse, called « Agora, cité de la danse ». The venue is comprised of a large courtyard -transformed into an outdoor theatre during the festival and three rehearsal studios. During a few days or weeks, dancers and choreographers benefit from these optimum housing and work conditions to work on their artistic project.
In 2019, 21 French and foreign companies have directly benefited from the BNP Paribas Foundation’s support, adding up to approximately 300 days of residency. Almost half of the choreographic projects designed and nurtured at the Agora was then included in the festival’s 2020 programme.
Emmanuel Gat, Mathilde Monnier, Jiri Kylian interpreted by the Ballet de Lyon, Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker, Robyn Orlin, Raimund Hoghe, Nadia Beugré, Sharon Eyal, Mourad Merzouki… those whom Jean-Paul Montanari calls his « friends in dance » and whose pieces have marked the memory of the festival, will be present. Without forgetting the much-regretted Dominique Bagouet, thanks to the recreation of ‘So Schnell’.
Photo credits : Header : @Anne Van Aerschot & © Montpellier Danse