Devised by the Musée de la Danse in Rennes, the Théâtre de la Ville in Paris and the Fondation d’entreprise Hermès, Danse élargie is open to artists from all disciplines and of all nationalities, who are invited to apply through an online call for projects. Twenty or so propositions are selected from the hundreds of submissions, to be performed on stage in front of an international panel of artists and an enthusiastic audience. The rules are simple: productions must be staged in public, involve new fewer than three performers, and last no longer than ten minutes, whatever their mode of expression.
Year in, year out, Danse élargie has proved a springboard for emerging talents from all backgrounds, whose performance languages transcend disciplines. Amongst the talents to have come to the fore thanks to this unique event are Mithkal Alzghair, Mohamed El Khatib, Tatiana Julien, Simon Tanguy, Noé Soulier and (LA)HORDE. As part of its Artists in the Community programme, the Fondation d’entreprise Hermès has accompanied this event since its launch in 2010, and has extended its support with the programming of work by finalists and laureates at the Théâtre de la Ville, at the start of the autumn season every two years.
In September 2019, the Théâtre de la Ville will host Danse élargie Suite, a programme of short pieces and original works over several days that bears witness to the long-term support offered by Foundation and the Théâtre de la Ville to artists who stood out in the competition. These professional-level performances not only enable emerging artists to bring their work to a wider audience, but also provide a unique opportunity for them to impress programmers searching for new talents. The exposure offered to young artists by these performances can truly accelerate their careers.
This post-competition programme will subsequently travel to London, where it will be hosted by the prestigious Sadler’s Wells Theatre as Danse élargie Extended, providing international visibility to these promising dancers and choreographers. The Foundation thus accompanies these young artists, not only in their communities but to ever broader horizons around the world.
