Inspired by Nijinski’s famous interpretation of Debussy’s “Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune,” choreographer and dancer Lara Barsacq rediscovers the image of the nymph and explores the history of dance through a contemporary perspective. Far from the stereotypical interpretation of lascivious and sensual creatures, her nymphs embody a feminist hymn to the liberating power of dance, transcending any rigid definition of sexuality. In collaboration with Marta Capaccioli, Barsacq leads a sensual struggle with tradition, initially pervaded by an explosion of electronic sounds and later reinterpreted by a classical ensemble.
Bio
Lara Barsacq graduated in 1991, at the age of 17, from the Conservatoire national de Musique et de Danse de Paris. Her first professional engagement took her to Israel, within the Batsheva company. Very quickly, Ohad Naharin asked her to choreograph a piece for the young Cie Batsheva. On the strength of this experience, Lara decided to throw herself fully into choreography. She produced several choreographic pieces for the Batsheva ensemble, the CNSMD in Paris, several independent companies in Israel and Amsterdam (Danswerkplaats), but also for her own. In 2002, she decided to focus on her career as a performer, curious to confront the universe of other choreographers or creators, among whom we can mention: Benny Claessens, Lies Pauwels, Lisi Estaras or Je?ro?me Bel. After 15 years of stimulating encounters, Lara returned to choreography, charged with an experience that now encompasses her many talents as a dancer, choreographer and performer. Lara is also regularly invited as an outside eye on other projects, such as Talk Show and Garcimore est mort by Gae?l Santisteva, with whom she develops her choreographic work. Based in Brussels since 2007, Lara Barsacq finds in this city an attractive, free and uninhibited artistic universe. In 2016, she began to imagine new projects taking their source in the past, while regularly bringing back female figures forgotten in the history of dance. “Lara Barsacq’s work is inspired by choreographic archives and favors above all research on the imaginary where history confronts the present. She likes to mix the tracks between archives, fictions, incarnation and documentary; talk about the big story as well as personal stories through which the vulnerability and the sincerity of being are revealed. Starting from historical events, autobiographical rituals and the material of reality, she tries to imagine dances, metaphors and to switch into incarnation.” In 2024, Lara Barsacq will direct Le fabuleux destin des Ballets russes with the OPRL-Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Lie?ge, a program composed of major works from the history of dance and the Ballets Russes. The premiere series will take place on February 2 and 3, 2024 in Lie?ge (Salle Philharmonique), at the opening of Pays de Danses festival. Lara Barsacq was resident choreographer at Charleroi danse from 2020 to 2022. She is accompanied by Grand Studio and was one of the artists of Re?seau Grand Luxe. Lara Barsacq is artist in residence at The?a?tre de Lie?ge (2024-2028) and at Cite? musicale-Metz (2024-2026).
Credits
A project by Lara Barsacq (creation 2023)
Creation and performance: Marta Capaccioli, Lara Barsacq, Cate Hortl, Le?onore Frommlet, Wanying Emilie Koang, Alyssia Hondekijn
Original Music: Cate Hortl
Stage and costumes design: Sofie Durnez
Light design: Estelle Gautier
Artistic Advisor: Gael Santisteva
Video: Gael Santisteva, Lara Barsacq
Video Animation: Katia Lecomte Mirsky
Music: Claude Debussy
Technical direction: Emma Laroche
Sound: Sammy Bichon
Administration and production: Myriam Chekhemani
Communication and distribution: Quentin Legrand – Rue Branly
Production Credits
Production: Gilbert & Stock
Coproduction: Kunstenfestivaldesarts, Charleroi danse – Centre Chore?graphique de la Fe?de?ration Wallonie-Bruxelles, The?a?tre de Lie?ge, Les Brigittines (BE), CCN de Caen en Normandie, CCN2 – Centre Chore?graphique National de Grenoble nell’ambito di l’Accueil-studio (FR)
Residency partners: Charleroi danse, Grand Studio, Les Brigittines (BE), CCN de Caen en Normandie, CCN2 – Centre Chore?graphique National de Grenoble (FR)
With the support of Federation Wallonie-Bruxelles – Service de la danse
With the kind partecipazione of Mrs.Coralie Cadene, responsabile del patrimonio dei costumi dell’Opéra national de Paris.
Thanks to Astrid Vansteenkiste, Soledad Ballve, Marion Sage, Sue-Yeon Youn, Marceline Bosquillon, Ivan-Vincent Massey, Benoit Pele, Heide Vanderieck, Ste?phane Barsacq, Julien Fournier, Soline Poteau, Jules Fournier, Belinda Mathieu, Les Halles de Schaerbeek, Simon Thierree, Fabienne Aucant, Daniel Blanga Gubbay, Frederic Jamagne, Philippe de Lustrac, Erwan Hakyoon Larcher, Stanislav Dobak
Lara Barsacq is artist in residence at Theatre de Lie?ge (2024-2028) and at Cite musicale-Metz (2024-2026).
