For this project, Angelin Preljocaj brings together  ten dancers from the Ballet Preljocaj and ten dancers from the Opera  National de Bordeaux. This collaboration began in 2018 through a  partnership between both companies, which resulted in the creation of Ghost  that same year, an immersion in the world of Marius Petipa. It also led  the Ballet de l’Opera National de Bordeaux to work on several reprises  of works such as Snow White, La Stravaganza and Un trait d’union.

In Mythologies, Angelin Preljocaj explores our contemporary  rituals, along with the founding myths that shape our collective  imagination. Like the impressionists before him, Preljocaj utilises our  ideals and beliefs to reveal what is lying within the folds of our  existence, thus inducing a dialogue between ancient and modern  mythologies.

Beyond the legendary tales and stories he enjoys choreographing,  myths and mythology have been inspiring Angelin Preljocaj since the very  beginning of his career.
À nos héros (1986) mocked totalitarian gestures and the faith in political mythology. Hallali Romée (1987) presented the “virgin of Orléans” as a very unorthodox heroin. Annunciation (1995) embodied the founding act of religions. Eldorado (2007) turned the mystical and highly ironical atmosphere of Stockhausen’s music into God’s private ritual. And then, One thousand years of peace  (2010), based on the Apocalypse of John, was an early attempt at  unveiling the reality that hides between the lines of our modern  rituals. And finally, La Fresque (The painting on the wall) (2016) followed the footsteps of ancestral, belligerent and tribal figures.

“Dance being an art of the inexpressible par  excellence, isn’t it best able to expose our fears, our anxieties and  our hopes? It stigmatises our rituals and uncovers the incongruity of  our postures, whether they are social, religious or pagan.”

Source: Angelin Preljocaj

More information: preljocaj.org

Angelin Preljocaj was born in the Paris region, in France, and began studying classical ballet before turning to contemporary dance, which he studied with Karin Waehner.
In 1980, he went to New York to work with Zena Rommett and Merce Cunningham, after which he resumed his studies in France, there his teachers included the American choreographer Viola Farber and the French one Quentin Rouillier. He then joined Dominique Bagouet before founding his own company in December 1984.

His productions are now part of the repertoire of many companies, many of which also commission original production from him, notably La Scala of Milan, the New York City Ballet and the Paris Opera Ballet. He has made short films ("Le postier", "Idées noires" in 1991) and several full-length films, notably "Un trait d’union" and "Annonciation" (1992 and 2003). In 2009, he directed "Snow White", featuring his own piece, and in 2011 he signed, for Air France, the commercial "L’Envol", based on the choreography of "Le Parc".
Since then he has collaborated on several films of his own choreographic work: « Les Raboteurs » with Cyril Collard (based on the painting by Gustave Caillebotte) in 1988, « Pavillon Noir » with Pierre Coulibeuf in 2006 and « Eldorado/ Preljocaj » with Olivier Assayas in 2007.

Since October 2006, the Ballet Preljocaj and its 24 permanent dancers have resided at the Pavillon Noir in Aix-en-Provence, a building entirely dedicated to dance, with Angelin Preljocaj as its artistic director. Made with Valérie Müller, the first full-length feature film by Angelin Preljocaj, « Polina », danser sa vie, adapted from the graphic novel by Bastien Vivès, came out in cinemas on November 2016.

Source: Ballet Preljocaj 's website

More information

preljocaj.org

Born in 1977, Fabien Plasson is a video director specialized in the field of performing arts (dance , music, etc).

During his studies at the Ecole Nationale des Beaux-Arts de Lyon (joined in 1995) Fabien discovered video art. He was trained by various video artists (Joel Bartoloméo Pascal Nottoli , Eric Duyckaerts , etc).
He first experimented with the creation of installations and cinematic objects.

From 2001 to 2011, he was in charge of Ginger & Fred video Bar’s programming at La Maison de la Danse in Lyon. He discovered the choreographic field and the importance of this medium in the dissemination, mediation and pedagogical approach to dance alongside Charles Picq, who was a brilliant video director and the director of the video department at that time.

Today, Fabien Plasson is the video director at La Maison de la Danse and in charge of the video section of Numeridanse.tv, an online international  video library, and continues his creative activities, making videos of concerts, performances and also creating video sets for live performances.

Sources: Maison de la Danse ; Fabien Plasson website

More information: fabione.fr

Artistic direction: Angelin Preljocaj
Creation: 1985

Created in December 1984, the Preljocaj company became the National Choreographic Centre of Champigny-sur-Marne and Val-de-Marne in 1989. In 1996, the ballet was welcomed at the Cité du Livre in Aix-en-Provence and became the Ballet Preljocaj – National Choreographic Centre of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region, the Bouches-du-Rhône Department, the Pays d’Aix Community and the City of Aix-en-Provence. Since founding his company, now composed of 26 dancers, Angelin Preljocaj has created 45 choreographic works, ranging from solo to larger formations. The Ballet performs about 100 dates per year on tour, in France and abroad.

Angelin Preljocaj has multiplied his collaborations with other artists like Enki Bilal (« Roméo et Juliette », 1990), Air (« Near Life Experience », 2003) etc. Beyond the repertory performances, the Ballet Preljocaj has been multiplying its local actions in Aix-en-Provence and neighbouring communities, in order to share its passion for dance with a broader public: lectures on dance interpretation through video, public rehearsals, contemporary-dance classes and workshops, and dance interventions in urban public space - all means of viewing and understanding dance from different perspectives.

The Ballet Preljocaj is now settled into its new home, designed by the architect Rudy Ricciotti in Aix-en-Provence. The Pavillon Noir is the first production centre built for dance, where artists will be able to go through the entire creative process, from workshops and rehearsals to staging and performance. The Pavillon Noir opened its doors on October 20, 2006. Angelin Preljocaj is the artistic director. Performances are programmed all year round, Angelin Preljocaj’s creations and also invited companies.

Source: Ballet Preljocaj 's website

More information: preljocaj.org