Daniel Larrieu

With the recreation of two of the foundation pieces in his repertoire, which are as committed as they are experimental, Daniel Larrieu is inviting the public to dive back into the creative effervescence of his early years. Beneath their apparent aesthetic contradictions, Chiquenaudes and Romance en Stuc form a gulf between the poles of his choreographic language, articulated with the question of gestures. The first trio, which established the originality of his writing, presents the demonstration of a silent execution with a radically emptied staging. The second, bringing together a dancing choir of ten performers, makes for a counterpoint between ancient lyricism and theatricality, amid a fresco which is by definition narrative. Yet, this gesture of revival, produced at an interval of three decades, has nothing to do with a nostalgic exploration, even if he makes no bones about digging up the awkwardness and provocations of his early works. It means being able to examine what is transformed during such a transmission, what is being renewed in terms of energy and the way in which one sign-body can reactivate the memory of another.

Born in Marseille, Daniel Larrieu is an unmissable choreographer on the French scene, with over fifty pieces in his repertoire, including On etait si tranquille, Waterproof, Anima or Delta. As a performer for Régine Chopinot or more recently Thomas Lebrun, he also collaborates on more experimental theatrical, visual or pedagogical projects. From 1994 to 2002, he directed the Centre Chorégraphique National de Tours. He has won numerous prizes, including the Grand Prix National de la Danse. Daniel Larrieu is an associate artist at the Centre des arts Enghien-les-Bains and permanent guest artist at the Ménagerie de Verre (Paris).