Research

In order to give choreographers "food" for thought and to lead an in-depth analysis and experimentation work, the Center for Choreographic Research and Composition has set-up :

- a research group

- seminars

- experimental projects associating choreographers to musical artists

The Research Group

The Research Group - changing every three years – lays theoretical fundations and elaborates experimentation practices around one given subject.

Artistic direction is provided for each group and its working mode – program, duration and frequency of the residencies, exterior contributors and the final form of the work – is determined by the very subject of the work.

For research work to be able to develop fully and independently, residencies are held outside choreographic production time frames. This work implies an important personal involvement for participants. It is a specific time and space window where investigation belongs to everyone.

From 2000 to 2003, translating scientific construction elements into the choreographic sphere has been the research group’s main focus. Its central question was : “What can certain structuring processes - observed in the scientific field - bring to choreographic construction ?”

The group was composed of seven dancers / choreographers : Sylvie Berthomé, Emanuela Ciavarella, Akiko Hasegawa, Thierry Lafont, Sosana marcelino, Annick Pütz and Claude Sorin. They gave a public presentation of their works on December, 13th 2003 at Royaumont Abbey.

The 2004-06 research group is now tackling the subject of group choreography through a cross analysis of ancient greek drama choir and contemporary choreography.

Initially sparked by choreographers Susan Buirge and Ersie Pittas, and drama theoricist Eleni Varopoulou, this group brings 5 French choreographers together – Bruno Couderc, Christine Jouve, Nicole Piazzon, Régis Rasmus and Barbara Sarreau – and 2 greek choreographers – Marilena Karetta and Natassa Zouka.

Its main reflexion revolves around the following questions :

What can the study of the lyrical aspects of antique Greek choir bring to contemporary choreography ?

What can abstract choreographic contruction modes bring to today’s antique drama ?

This work evolved through residencies in Royaumont or Greece.

A public account of it was given on 13 January 2007 in the Royaumont Abbey.

For more information, please contact us.

Seminars and meetings

In order to share the Research Group’s reflections and works, the CCCR organises meetings and seminars with the public.

Following the first Research Group’s public presentation, the CCCR has organised a seminar on contemporary dance research – often lacking clarity and visibility outside academic walls.

This is how the roots and the main features and specificities of contemporary dance have been tracked by contributors, artists and scholars who also broadened their research to other disciplines ranging from drama to music and film.

After an introduction by philosopher Jean-Christophe Bailly and dance historian Laurence Louppe, the members of the research group as well guest artists (Mathilde Monnier, Hervé Robbe, Nicolas Frize, Jean-François Peyret, Robert Cahen...) testified about their own experiences before joining a big round table.

The minutes of this seminor are available on line.

Experimental projects

Within the scope of « The Grand Atelier » - a multidisciplinary laboratory, the CCCR organises projects for choreographers and dancers to experiment a working process with other artists.

This is how a first project involving the collaboration in duet form of three choreographers and three composers gave birth to several short plays which were shown during the 2002 spring.

A new edition of the “Grand Atelier, for choreographers and composers” is now starting in December 2004 – the final form of this work will be shown in April 2005 at Royaumont.

In 2004, the CCCR is also committed to a “Grand Atelier” project dealing with the maqam musical form. Dancers and Choreographers Bernardo Montet and Taouffiq Izeddiou will be associated to musicians specialised in maqam and from various backgrounds.