<strong>Lyon</strong> Dance Bi<strong>en</strong>nale / History25 years / 13 editions1984Major influ<strong>en</strong>ces onmo<strong>de</strong>rn dance worldwi<strong>de</strong>Foun<strong>de</strong>d in the ashes of the <strong>Lyon</strong> FourvièreFestival, the <strong>Lyon</strong> Dance Bi<strong>en</strong>nalereflected creator Guy Darmet’s utopianvision: to bring all of dance into everyhome, with no intellectual or socialbarriers. Jean-C<strong>la</strong>u<strong>de</strong> Gallotta premieredLes av<strong>en</strong>tures d’Ivan Vaffan, MichelHallet Eghayan staged <strong>Retour</strong> <strong>en</strong><strong>Avant</strong>, Ballet <strong>de</strong> l’Opéra <strong>de</strong> <strong>Lyon</strong> performedKurt Joos’ La Table Verte, Balletdu Rhin paid tribute to Serge Lifar, andthe spectators became acquainted withthe dance of Merce Cunningham, whopres<strong>en</strong>ted numerous works for the firsttime in <strong>France</strong>.14 companies / 39,800 spectators1986Expressionist danceThe Bi<strong>en</strong>nale paid homage to MaryWigman. Audi<strong>en</strong>ces discovered OskarSchlemmer’s Ballet Triadique, recreatedby Gerhard Bohner, and Kazuo Oono’sButoh in an unforgettable tribute toLa Arg<strong>en</strong>tina. Dominique Bagouetpremiered Assaï, a major piece in thecontemporary choreographic repertoire.18 companies / 42,350 spectators1988<strong>Danse</strong> <strong>France</strong> !The Bi<strong>en</strong>nale focused on four c<strong>en</strong>turiesof Fr<strong>en</strong>ch choreographic activity,from court dances to contemporarydance. Ballet Français <strong>de</strong> Nancy (PatrickDupond) paid tribute to Serge Diaghilev.There were many premieres,including Les Petites pièces <strong>de</strong> Berlin byDominique Bagouet, Coups d’états byMaguy Marin and La Bayadère by AndyDegroat, while Jean-C<strong>la</strong>u<strong>de</strong> Gallottapres<strong>en</strong>ted his new version ofMammame in the first half of a ballstarring accordionist Yvette Horner!20 companies / 54,737 spectators1990An American StoryThe Bi<strong>en</strong>nale <strong>de</strong>voted 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 <strong>Lyon</strong> for the firsttime. Lucinda Childs staged her firstrecreation of her mythical piece Dance,while Angelin Preljocaj premieredAmer America. The New York Timeswrote: “The <strong>Lyon</strong> Bi<strong>en</strong>nale is not theonly dance festival in <strong>France</strong>, but itsfourth edition proved it is the only festivalthat really matters.” The Bi<strong>en</strong>nalewas starting to attract global interest,while revealing artists and new work.23 companies / 72,974 spectators1992Pasion <strong>de</strong> EspanaThe Bi<strong>en</strong>nale <strong>en</strong>hanced its status as amajor popu<strong>la</strong>r festival involving the<strong>en</strong>tire city. Neighbourhood ev<strong>en</strong>tswere held, and a day-long Feria fevergripped the Old Town. Mats Ek premieredCarm<strong>en</strong> for Cullberg Ballet, whileCristina Hoyos gave her Yerma its worldpremiere. The Cata<strong>la</strong>n Cesc Ge<strong>la</strong>bertrestaged Belmonte, one of his company’sf<strong>la</strong>gship works.27 companies / 89,000 spectators +150,000 people at the Feria1994Mama Africa, from Africato HarlemThis edition was marked by two importantev<strong>en</strong>ts : 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 <strong>en</strong> Couleurs1996Aquare<strong>la</strong> do BrasilThe Bi<strong>en</strong>nale trained its spotlight onBrazil. Five hundred astonishingly mo<strong>de</strong>rndancers, singers, musicians, visua<strong>la</strong>rtists and creators converged in <strong>Lyon</strong>thanks to Guy Darmet. Le Défilé, a vastpara<strong>de</strong> through the city c<strong>en</strong>tre (inspiredby Rio’s famous carnival), was ahuge hit, <strong>en</strong>thusing the 200,000-strongaudi<strong>en</strong>ce lining the streets. This editiongave young Brazilian choreographers–including Lia Rodrigues, Deborah Colkerand Joao Viotti Saldhana – a freshp<strong>la</strong>tform for their work.31 companies, 82,559 spectators +200,000 people at Le Défilé1998MediterraneaThe Bi<strong>en</strong>nale gazed southward,inviting 840 artists from 11 countriesalong the Mediterranean. In a <strong>de</strong>licatepolitical context, there was a symbolicpress-confer<strong>en</strong>ce meeting betwe<strong>en</strong> twochoreographers : Ohad Naharin fromIsrael and Ab<strong>de</strong>l Halim Caracal<strong>la</strong> fromLebanon. This edition revealed youngIsraeli choreographers such as Liat Dror/Nir B<strong>en</strong> Gal and Inbal Pinto. B<strong>la</strong>nca 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 Bi<strong>en</strong>nale, the public discovereddance c<strong>en</strong>tred on imagery,reflection and meditation. This editionwas also rich in discoveries : youngKorean Hong Sung-Yop, the Fr<strong>en</strong>chpremiere of Absolute Zero by SaburoTeshigawara, the reve<strong>la</strong>tion of KimItoh, and the exemp<strong>la</strong>ry reconstructionof 17th-c<strong>en</strong>tury dynastic dances byTaiwanese company Han Tan Yuefu allleft in<strong>de</strong>lible impressions.32 companies / 79,060 spectators +200,000 people at Le Défilé106
2002Terra LatinaThis t<strong>en</strong>th edition was <strong>de</strong>voted toLatin America, from the Rio Gran<strong>de</strong>to Tierra <strong>de</strong>l Fuego, and featuredmany companies unknown in Europe.Maguy Marin pres<strong>en</strong>ted her work Lesapp<strong>la</strong>udissem<strong>en</strong>ts ne se mang<strong>en</strong>t pas,while audi<strong>en</strong>ces discovered Colombiancompany L’Explose and Ballet <strong>de</strong>Lorraine paid tribute to José Limon.This particu<strong>la</strong>rly festive bi<strong>en</strong>nale waspunctuated by three balls that swungto tango, salsa and samba beats.36 companies / 87,000 spectators and300,000 people at Le Défilé2004EuropaThe Bi<strong>en</strong>nale pres<strong>en</strong>ted contemporaryEurope, with 11 premieres. An internationalhip-hop gathering of groupsfrom across Europe kicked off this 11thedition.The public discovered the dance of Britishchoreographer Wayne McGregor,the solo writt<strong>en</strong> by Belgian Jan Fabrefor Lisbeth Gruwez, and Fr<strong>en</strong>chmanChristian Rizzo’s piece for Ballet <strong>de</strong>l’Opéra <strong>de</strong> <strong>Lyon</strong>.51 companies / 75,048 spectators /250,000 people at Le Défilé2006<strong>Danse</strong> <strong>la</strong> villeThe Bi<strong>en</strong>nale emphasisedthe choreographiccreativity of majorcities around the world– from New York to Tokyo viaParis, Rio <strong>de</strong> Janeiro, Berlin, Sydney,Madrid, Bu<strong>en</strong>os Aires, Dakar,Brussels and more.A feature of this edition was broa<strong>de</strong>rsupport for new work, as the Bi<strong>en</strong>naleallocated a co-production budget.Young choreographers – Serge-AiméCoulibaly, Andonis Fionadakis, YuvalPick, Rachid Ouramdane… – pres<strong>en</strong>tedtheir new pieces. Nasser Martin-Gousset premiered his Péplum, whichbecame the choreographic hit of the2006-07 season in <strong>France</strong>.40 companies / 86,671 spectators +320,000 at Le Défilé2008<strong>Past</strong> <strong>Forward</strong>A quarter-c<strong>en</strong>tury <strong>la</strong>ter, this year’s Bi<strong>en</strong>naleexplores issues to do with past andfuture, and with repertoire, transmissionand creativity.42 companies / 85,000 spectatorsexpected107
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