I am currently attending this year’s Biennale de la Danse in Lyon – one of France’s mighty dance festivals, with no less than 57 works being performed in the city until October 10. Created in 1984, the Biennale has always leaned strongly towards contemporary dance, but it knows how to juggle between old masters and young creators – bringing the likes of Pina Bausch to the Lyon Opera House and featuring up-and-coming French choreographers in an array of smaller venues scattered around the city. This edition is also the last for long-time artistic director Guy Darmet, and he chose to go out on a jolly note with the following title, printed in bright pink everywhere: “Encore!” (More!) But how cheerful should we be about the program?

I’ll be tweeting live from a number of shows and press conferences at @bellafigural – look out for the #BiennaleLyon tag!

A snapshot from the festival's Défilé (scroll down for more)

Bella Figura’s early picks

Neo-Classical Riots

• Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo: Rite of Spring / Altro Canto Part I, Maison de la Danse, until September 14
  The landmark Hodson/Archer reconstruction of the 1910 Rite of Spring, rarely seen in France, combined with a neo-classical masterpiece: artistic director Jean-Christophe Maillot’s Altro Canto Part I, choreographed in 2006, a stunning, androgynous take on Monteverdi featuring Maillot’s sculptural muse, Bernice Coppieters.
• Lyon Opera Ballet: Forsythe evening: Quintett/Workwithinwork, Lyon Opera, September 24-28
  The only other classically-trained company to take part in the festival, the Lyon Opera Ballet, is a Forsythe believer. The two works in this bill, both company premieres, are seldom performed in France, and should serve the company’s modern edge well.

Ballets de Monte-Carlo - Altro Canto Part I © Christian Ganet

Modern Dance History Lesson

• Trisha Brown Dance Company: You Can See Us/Foray Forêt/Opal Loop – Cloud Installation #72503/L’amour au théâtre, Le Transbordeur (Villeurbanne), September 14-15
  The American choreographer is celebrating the 40th anniversary of her company, and the works shown in Lyon offers a glimpse of her range and evolution. A complete “Parcours Trisha Brown” is even in place, with an exhibition at macLYON and a selection of Early Works shown outdoors, at the Parc de la Tête d’Or.
• Pina Bausch/Tanztheater Wuppertal: Nelken, Lyon Opera, September 15-20
  Now is the time to celebrate the legendary Pina Bausch, who passed away just a year ago, amid concerns about the long-term survival of her historical company. Dominique Mercy sensitively discussed the “mourning” state of the Tanztheater Wuppertal during the press conference, and the company is to continue exploring Pina Bausch’s large repertoire.
  » Watch: A trailer for Nelken
  

Tanztheater Wuppertal - Nelken © Ulli Weiss

American Success Stories

• Ailey II: Ailey Highlights / Splendid Isolation II / The Hunt / Revelations / Echoes, Théâtre des Célestins, September 15-26
  Alvin Ailey’s school is now a landmark in the American dance world, and the young Ailey II company, comprised of advanced students, is an eager advocate of the choreographer’s wide repertoire. With a series of Ailey highlights and Revelations, they are taking historical North American works to France. 3 recent creations by Jessica Lang, Robert Battle and Thang Dao complete what is set to be 2 beautiful mixed bills.
• Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company: Fondly Do We Hope… Fervently Do We Pray, Maison de la Danse, September 18-22
  Wondering about the current political and racial turmoil in the USA? Bill T. Jones, one of America’s most cherished Black choreographers, comes to Lyon with a full-length dance work about Abraham Lincoln, the White president who ended the Civil War, and seems bound to provide us with much food for thought.
  » Watch: Bill T. Jones discussing Fondly do we Hope… Fervently do we Pray

Ailey II in The Hunt © Eduardo Patino

Local Talents

• Compagnie Käfig/CCN de Créteil: Boxe Boxe, Maison de la Danse, September 25-October 9
  A hip-hop company from Lyon recently offered the direction of one of France’s CCN (regional Choreographic Centers), Käfig produces eclectic works with a clear urban feel.
• Compagnie Maguy Marin/CCN de Rilleux-la-Pape: Salves, Petit Théâtre du TNP, September 13-19
  Maguy Marin’s highly theatrical and sometimes practically dance-less works have found their audience in Lyon ever since she became director of the local CCN. Her strange sense of poetry can be compelling, and this small-scale new work will hopefully be a worthwhile addition to the company’s repertoire.

Maguy Marin's Salves © Christian Ganet

Special Mention: Unlikely Collaboration of the Year

• Ballet Preljocaj/Bolshoi Ballet: And then, a thousand years’ peace, Maison de la Danse, September 24-27
  Angelin Preljocaj and the Bolshoi: these are two names I never thought I would combine in the same sentence. And yet here they are, suddenly brought together for the France-Russia Year. Lyon’s Maison de la Danse is the first touring venue for this work, to be created in Moscow on September 14, and with half the dancers from Ballet Preljocaj and half from the Bolshoi, it could turn out to be weird, compelling, or anything in between. If anyone can rekindle Preljocaj’s dwindling creativity, however, it may just be today’s Bolshoi.

Ballet Preljocaj/Bolshoi Ballet - Rehearsal image © JC Carbonne

Outsiders: Nasser Martin-Gousset, Olivier Dubois, Catherine Diverrès and Michel Kelemenis in the “French choreographers” category; Les Indes dansantes, a Baroque dance performance; local ventures such as Compagnie Propos and Compagnie Acte; flamenco dancers Andrés Marin and Angeles Gabaldon; Balé de Rua, Deborah Colker and Focus Cia de Dança for some South American energy.

And it all started with a Parade…

Let’s finish off with a few snapshots of the traditional Défilé (Parade) in the streets of Lyon, aptly titled “La Vie en Rose” (Life in Pink). Hundreds of amateur dancers gathered for a display of crazy costumes and silly group dances watched by around 300 000 people last Sunday, according to the Biennale – a bit of dance in the sunshine while companies prepared in dark theatres.

A new genre of tutu?

A majestic float...

Hip hop parade

Lonely pink tutu with bubbles