Retour en Avant / Past Forward Biennale de la Danse Lyon - France

Lyon Dance Biennale / History25 years / 13 editions1984Major influences onmodern dance worldwideFounded in the ashes of the Lyon FourvièreFestival, the Lyon Dance Biennalereflected creator Guy Darmet’s utopianvision: to bring all of dance into everyhome, with no intellectual or socialbarriers. Jean-Claude Gallotta premieredLes aventures d’Ivan Vaffan, MichelHallet Eghayan staged Retour enAvant, Ballet de l’Opéra de Lyon performedKurt Joos’ La Table Verte, Balletdu Rhin paid tribute to Serge Lifar, andthe spectators became acquainted withthe dance of Merce Cunningham, whopresented numerous works for the firsttime in France.14 companies / 39,800 spectators1986Expressionist danceThe Biennale paid homage to MaryWigman. Audiences discovered OskarSchlemmer’s Ballet Triadique, recreatedby Gerhard Bohner, and Kazuo Oono’sButoh in an unforgettable tribute toLa Argentina. Dominique Bagouetpremiered Assaï, a major piece in thecontemporary choreographic repertoire.18 companies / 42,350 spectators1988Danse France !The Biennale focused on four centuriesof French choreographic activity,from court dances to contemporarydance. Ballet Français de Nancy (PatrickDupond) paid tribute to Serge Diaghilev.There were many premieres,including Les Petites pièces de Berlin byDominique Bagouet, Coups d’états byMaguy Marin and La Bayadère by AndyDegroat, while Jean-Claude Gallottapresented his new version ofMammame in the first half of a ballstarring accordionist Yvette Horner!20 companies / 54,737 spectators1990An American StoryThe Biennale devoted to the UnitedStates helped bring many choreographers,such as Bill T. Jones, tointernational notice. All of America’smost notable creators – such as MerceCunningham, Martha Graham and PaulTaylor – gathered in Lyon for the firsttime. Lucinda Childs staged her firstrecreation of her mythical piece Dance,while Angelin Preljocaj premieredAmer America. The New York Timeswrote: “The Lyon Biennale is not theonly dance festival in France, but itsfourth edition proved it is the only festivalthat really matters.” The Biennalewas starting to attract global interest,while revealing artists and new work.23 companies / 72,974 spectators1992Pasion de EspanaThe Biennale enhanced its status as amajor popular festival involving theentire city. Neighbourhood eventswere held, and a day-long Feria fevergripped the Old Town. Mats Ek premieredCarmen for Cullberg Ballet, whileCristina Hoyos gave her Yerma its worldpremiere. The Catalan Cesc Gelabertrestaged Belmonte, one of his company’sflagship works.27 companies / 89,000 spectators +150,000 people at the Feria1994Mama Africa, from Africato HarlemThis edition was marked by two importantevents : the premiere ofStill/Here by Bill T. Jones’s famous company,and the first-ever visit to Europeby Grupo Corpo from Brazil. Hip-hoptook the stage with Athina, premieredby Accrorap. A big, colourful party setto African rhythms was held on thebanks of the River Saône.20 companies / 75,500 spectators +120,000 people at the Fête en Couleurs1996Aquarela do BrasilThe Biennale trained its spotlight onBrazil. Five hundred astonishingly moderndancers, singers, musicians, visualartists and creators converged in Lyonthanks to Guy Darmet. Le Défilé, a vastparade through the city centre (inspiredby Rio’s famous carnival), was ahuge hit, enthusing the 200,000-strongaudience lining the streets. This editiongave young Brazilian choreographers–including Lia Rodrigues, Deborah Colkerand Joao Viotti Saldhana – a freshplatform for their work.31 companies, 82,559 spectators +200,000 people at Le Défilé1998MediterraneaThe Biennale gazed southward,inviting 840 artists from 11 countriesalong the Mediterranean. In a delicatepolitical context, there was a symbolicpress-conference meeting between twochoreographers : Ohad Naharin fromIsrael and Abdel Halim Caracalla fromLebanon. This edition revealed youngIsraeli choreographers such as Liat Dror/Nir Ben Gal and Inbal Pinto. Blanca Lipremiered Le Songe du Minautaureand Compagnie Käfig performed itsRécital.35 companies / 85,099 spectators /90,000 people (in the rain!) at Le Défilé2000The Silk RoadsDuring this Biennale, the public discovereddance centred on imagery,reflection and meditation. This editionwas also rich in discoveries : youngKorean Hong Sung-Yop, the Frenchpremiere of Absolute Zero by SaburoTeshigawara, the revelation of KimItoh, and the exemplary reconstructionof 17th-century dynastic dances byTaiwanese company Han Tan Yuefu allleft indelible impressions.32 companies / 79,060 spectators +200,000 people at Le Défilé106