Young Choreographers’ Competition: objectives and issues
It is often difficult today for a young classical/neo-classical choreographer to gain recognition or launch a creative project. Hiring an ensemble of classically trained dancers that can be available for several weeks to create a performance, finding theaters where they can be booked, etc. are activities that are too often out of reach.
Thus above and beyond providing support for emerging young choreographers and new talented individuals, one of the issues pointed out is renewing the ballet repertoire and giving it high visibility in the profession both nationally and internationally.
To assist emerging young choreographers, in 2015, the partners have decided to create a competition to identify, highlight and assist two budding talents during three seasons by giving them the means to create for an ensemble of classical dancers and present their work to audiences.
Another objective is also to help attract and promote aspiring choreographers that didn’t dare try their luck until now.
Today, the Bordeaux National Opera’s Ballet, the Malandain Ballet Biarritz with the CCN Ballet de l’Opéra national du Rhin and the support of the Ministry of Culture, launch the 4nd Edition of the Emergent choreographers contest.
Competition’s General Programme
28 September 2023 – 22 december 2023: call for applications
15 january 2024: six finalists nomination
9 June 2024: final round for the 6 finalists. Selection in Biarritz (France) Theatre Gare du Midi of two winners and special awards
2024-2025 Season: creating and performing residencies with both Ballet companies.
Centre for Choreographic Cooperation
The Centre for Choreographic Cooperation brings together the Ballet of National Opera of Bordeaux, the Ballet of the Capitole of The Toulouse and Malandain Ballet Biarritz.
These three ballets focus on the aesthetics of classical dance from its roots to its most current forms. Their collaboration is a result of the Greater South West’s Centre for Choreographic Cooperation (in French: Pôle de coopération chorégraphique du Grand Sud-Ouest).
The Centre’s project came to be in 2012 as a result of several observations. Ballet, now more than ever, continues to delight a broad audience thanks to works taken from its repertoire and creations. Despite this popularity, there are only five hundred dancers employed under permanent contracts in France, there are very few troupes compared to other countries, and ultimately there aren’t many young choreographers demanding a commitment to academic vocabulary. This is even more ironic than the vocabulary, since Ballet as a theatrical genre earned a reputation for excellence in France before spreading throughout Europe and then worldwide.
In this context, the Centre’s aim is to encourage a joint analysis of Ballet today by creating and producing new choreographies, an economic model for tours, conditions for emerging young classical/neo-classical choreographers, training and dancing careers, etc.
