Created by the Musée de la Danse (Rennes) and the Théâtre de la Ville (Paris), "Danse élargie" is open to artists from across all disciplines and from countries around the world. Each edition begins with an online call for projects, and with an increasing number of submissions every year the competition now functions as a veritable artistic springboard. Amongst the hundreds of candidates, twenty or so finalists are selected to perform before a jury of international artists and an enthusiastic audience. The rules of the game are as simple as they are original: at least three performers, free choice in the form of artistic expression, and a maximum of ten minutes.

Some of the competition winners are invited to develop their short-format works into longer performances that are staged at the Théâtre de la Ville the following year. For the artists, this represents an opportunity to benefit from a rare and valuable accompaniment and to present their work at a prestigious venue. For the theatre’s artistic directors, meanwhile, this encounter offers an unmissable chance to identify emerging talents whose work is developing new, transdisciplinary languages. Previous laureates who have gone on to become established performers include Mithkal Alzghaïr, Mohamed El Khatib, Tatiana Julien, Lénio Kaklea, Simon Tanguy, Noé Soulier and (LA)HORDE.

In 2018, the fifth edition of "Danse élargie" welcomes eighteen finalists, chosen from over 460 candidates from seventy countries.