sports
Beyond human: Montpellier Danse festival delivers one feat after another
This year’s celebration of contemporary dance in the French city is bold, baffling and breathtaking, with some high-voltage performers
TL;DR
- The Montpellier Danse festival, established in 1981, maintains its ethos of spreading dance across the city and mixing popular and recherché works.
- Jann Gallois' 'Imminentes' is a dynamic hour-long piece for six women, characterized by gradual melding and increasing mobility, backed by powerful sound and lighting.
- Collectif XY's 'Le Pas du Monde', featured in the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, combines spectacular circus feats with metaphorical depth, exploring collective aspirations and human support.
- Lisbeth Gruwez's 'Tempest' begins enigmatically but culminates in a stunning sensory experience.
- Héla Fattoumi's 'Twama Paradise' is a mature duet exploring themes of memory, womanhood, and aging through the parallel lives of two women, blending cultural influences.
- The festival runs until July 4.