This installation brings together female volunteers over 50 from the Lorraine region in France who, through their strength and energy, cut logs, throw axes, construct and build ephemeral wooden totems.

Such, in a few words, is the concept behind Dorte Olesen’s installation Femmes Bûcherons, which will occupy for 5 days the Place Stanislas in Nancy to open the evening performances at the Opéra National de Lorraine.

She wishes to make female strength and community spirit more visible, make an aspect of rural life visible to city dwellers, and show the degree of physical force required to produce energy.

However, her project also aims to show the knowledge possessed by women over 50 and to encourage the meeting of different cultures.

“I hope that the spectators will feel the smell of the logs and soak up the force of attraction of the physical cooperation and community spirit existing amongst women. Women over 50 form an interesting group. They place no importance on appearance”.

Femmes Bûcherons is a display of female strength.

Source CCN - Ballet de Lorraine programme 2012 - 2013

Dorte Olesen, a Danish-Swedish creative genius, is a choreographer who smashes all rules.

On the scene for over 20 years, she completed her studies at the Danshögskolan in Stockholm, then went on to create several incredible works, including Ful Flicka (2004), Pudel (2005) and, more recently, Boy and Boy (2007).

Gender issues always play a central role in her work, as do ideas on identity and belonging. Femmes Bûcherons is her first major performance in an open public space and is performed by non-dancers.

Source : CCN - Ballet de Lorraine, programme 2012 - 2013

Since acquiring the CCN title in 1999, the Centre Chorégraphique National - Ballet de Lorraine has dedicated itself to supporting contemporary choreographic creation. As of July 2011 the organization is under the general and artistic direction of Petter Jacobsson.
The CCN – Ballet de Lorraine and its company of 26 dancers is one of the most important companies working in Europe, performing contemporary creations while retaining and programming a rich and extensive repertory, spanning our modern history, made up of works by some of our generations most highly regarded choreographers.
The CCN functions as an art center and venue for multiple possibilities in the fields of research, experimentation and artistic creation. It is a platform open to many different disciplines, a space where the many visions of dance of today may meet. 

More information : http://ballet-de-lorraine.eu