SUMMER DANCE IN FRANCE

By Patricia Boccadoro

PARIS, 15 June 2006 —From North to South, East to West, there are festivals a-plenty throughout France, but somehow this year as last, there is little to get worked up about as far as dance is concerned. The best bet is to stay or visit the capital to see all three programmes of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre.

Alternatively, those who have never seen Sylvie Guillem and who find themselves in the region of the attractive town of Vaison-la-Romaine in the South have one of their last chances of seeing her in the Antique Theatre interpreting Russell Maliphant's Push . Montpellier Danse 06, which includes such personalities as Ohad Naharin alongside Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker and Maguy Marin also presents Bouchra Ouizguen and Radhouane el Meddeb, exciting young newcomers to the jaded French scene.

But frankly, those who don't plan to be in the French capital this July would do better to abandon dance entirely over the summer and head for the Chorégies of Orange* where at least three or four outstanding programmes are being presented in the magnificent Roman amphitheatre there, an experience in itself, and follow it up by the stunning exhibition of Cézanne en Provence at the Granet Museum at Aix-en-Provence.**  However, come September........ there is the Biennale of Lyon .
 
Paris

"Les étés de la danse"   Alvin Ailey   American Dance Theatre 

Gardens of the French National Archives
60, rue des Francs-Bourgeois
Tel: (33) 0892 687 100
www.lesetesdeladanse.com

July 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8      21h 45
""Autour du Jazz" choreography A. Ailey and B. Wilson

July 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
The "Best of" of the company

With choreographies by H. Boykin, A.R. Jackson, M. Rushing, D. Parsons, U. Dove, R.K. Brown, H. van Manen, J; Jamison with R. Battle and R. Harris.

Acceptance In Surrender
By Hope Boykin, Abdur-Rahim Jackson and Matthew Rushing
AAADT Company Members
Photo: Paul Kolnik
Photo courtesy of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre .

July 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22
Hommage à Alvin Ailey

All three programmes of this superb company; with its unique mix of classical, jazz, black American and contemporary dance are recommended. Glamour, emotion and dramatic theatricality guaranteed.

Vaison -la Romain

Antique Theatre
Tel: (33) 04 90 28 74 74
www.vaison-festival.com

July 12, 13
Sylvie Guillem
Push
choreography: Russell Maliphant

July 16
Sankai Juku
Unetsu

July 18, 19
Mayumana

July 22
National Ballet of Spain
Grito
La leyenda"

July 25
Bill T. Jones/ Arnie Zane Dance Company

Another Evening: I bow down

July 28
Tamango's Urban Tap

Lyon

Biennale de la danse
September 9 -30

Tel: (33) 04 72 00 21 70
www.biennale-de-lyon.org

Forty international companies in some thirty different settings is inevitably a spectacular event, and ample opportunity is given to discover such personalities as Benjamin Millepied or Nasser Martin-Gousset.

*The Chorégies d'Orange is presenting  Aida on July 8 and 11, Mozart's Requiem on July 15, and Lucia di Lammermoor on July 29 and August 1st. There is a concert with Inva Mula and Rolando Villazon on August 4. The setting is quite simply unique! For further information telephone (33) 04 90 34 24 24
 
** The exhibition of Cézanne en Provence at the Granet Museum presents over 116 works completed in the area, and is open to the public from June 9th to September 17th. For further information, telephone (33) 04 42 52 87 80

Photo above: Asha Thomas
Photo: Howard Schatz
Photo courtesy of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre

Patricia Boccadoro writes on dance in Europe and is the dance editor for Culturekiosque.com.

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