Centre Chorégraphique National de Lyon

Centre Chorégraphique National de Lyon
Name	Centre Chorégraphique National de Lyon
Established	1969
Type	Dance company and institution
Location	Lyon, France

Centre Chorégraphique National de Lyon

The Centre Chorégraphique National de Lyon is a major contemporary dance institution based in Lyon, France, linked to national cultural networks such as the Ministère de la Culture, the Théâtre de la Croix‑Rousse, the Opéra de Lyon, and the Biennale de Lyon, and frequently collaborates with international partners including the Théâtre de la Ville, the Musée d'Orsay, the Festival d'Avignon, the Royal Opera House, and the Sadler's Wells.

History

Founded in 1969 during a period of cultural policy expansion under the Ministère de la Culture and amidst broader European initiatives like the Festival d'Avignon and the Edinburgh Festival, the institution emerged alongside companies such as Groupe de Recherches Théâtrales, Ballet National de Marseille, and Ballet de l'Opéra de Lyon. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s it hosted residencies and coproductions with choreographers connected to the Judson Dance Theater, Merce Cunningham Dance Company, Pina Bausch's Tanztheater Wuppertal, and Angelin Preljocaj, while engaging with venues including Théâtre du Châtelet, Théâtre de la Ville, and Théâtre National de Bretagne. In the 1990s and 2000s its programming intersected with the careers of artists linked to the Martha Graham Dance Company, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Nederlands Dans Theater, and William Forsythe Company, and it participated in festivals such as Montpellier Danse, Tanz im August, and Zürcher Theater Spektakel. The centre's institutional trajectory has been influenced by cultural policies exemplified by the Conseil Régional Auvergne‑Rhône‑Alpes, the Institut Français, and the European Commission's cultural programmes.

Mission and Organization

The centre's mission aligns with national directives from the Ministère de la Culture and regional initiatives from the Conseil Régional Auvergne‑Rhône‑Alpes to support creation, dissemination, and archiving of choreography, working in partnership with institutions such as the Centre National de la Danse, the Maison de la Danse, the Bibliothèque nationale de France, and the Musée des Confluences. Its organizational structure includes administrative collaboration with unions and associations like the Syndicat National des Entreprises Artistiques et Culturelles, contractual frameworks informed by the Code du Travail, and funding from patrons including Fondation de France, DRAC Auvergne‑Rhône‑Alpes, and the European Cultural Foundation. The centre operates artistic, technical, and outreach departments that coordinate with production teams from La Filature, Le Centquatre, and La Comédie de Lyon.

Artistic Programming and Companies

Programming encompasses premieres, revivals, and coproductions presented at venues such as Opéra de Lyon, Théâtre des Célestins, Maison de la Danse, and international stages including Sadler's Wells, Wiener Festwochen, and Lincoln Center. The institution has commissioned works from choreographers associated with the Merce Cunningham Dance Company, Pina Bausch, Mats Ek, Ohad Naharin, Crystal Pite, and Sharon Eyal, and has hosted companies such as Nederlands Dans Theater, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ballet Preljocaj, and Random Dance. Its seasons often connect to festivals and institutions like Biennale de Lyon, Festival d'Automne à Paris, Kunstenfestivaldesarts, Festival de Marseille, and Montpellier Danse, and it collaborates on interdisciplinary projects with the Centre Pompidou, Palais Garnier, Musée d'Orsay, and Philharmonie de Paris.

Notable Directors and Choreographers

Leadership and artists linked to the centre include figures whose careers intersect with institutions and works like Maguy Marin and Groupe Merci, Dominique Bagouet and Théâtre National de Chaillot, Jean‑Christophe Maillot and Les Ballets de Monte‑Carlo, Boris Charmatz and Musée des Arts Décoratifs, and Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker and Rosas; others include Angelin Preljocaj, William Forsythe, Merce Cunningham, Pina Bausch, Ohad Naharin, Crystal Pite, Akram Khan, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, and Jérôme Bel. These directors and choreographers maintain professional relations with organizations such as the Comédie‑Française, Opéra National de Paris, Royal Ballet, Nederlands Dans Theater, and Théâtre du Rond‑Point.

Building and Facilities

Housed in facilities that interface with the urban fabric of Lyon and cultural infrastructures like La Sucrière, Halle Tony Garnier, and Gare Saint‑Paul, the centre's spaces include rehearsal studios, performance halls, production workshops, and archives comparable to those at the Centre National de la Danse and Bibliothèque nationale de France. Technical capacities support lighting, scenography, and audiovisual work linked to companies such as Ballet de l'Opéra de Lyon and Théâtre de la Ville, and the building strategy reflects collaborations with architectural and engineering firms experienced on projects like Cité de la Musique, Musée des Confluences, and Fondation Louis Vuitton.

Outreach, Education, and Community Engagement

Educational activities connect with conservatoires and schools such as Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Lyon, Conservatoire de Paris, École des Sables, and Institut del Teatre, while outreach initiatives partner with municipal programs of Lyon, the DRAC, local collèges and lycées, and associations like Fédération Française de Danse and Fédération Nationale des Maisons des Jeunes et de la Culture. Community projects link to international exchanges with the Institut Français, Erasmus+, British Council, Goethe‑Institut, and Casa de América, and the centre contributes to research networks including the European Dancehouse Network, Transnational Performing Arts Network, and IETM.

Awards and Recognition

The centre and artists associated with it have been recognized through national and international honors such as the Victoires de la Musique Classique, Prix Chorégies d'Orange, Laurence Olivier Awards, Benois de la Danse, Grand Prix de la Critique, Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, and Knight of the Legion of Honour, and its productions have been lauded at festivals including Festival d'Avignon, Biennale de Lyon, Montpellier Danse, and Tanz im August.

Category:Dance companies in France Category:Culture in Lyon