Leçons de danses historiques

Choreographer Anna Olkhovaya is at the origin of this project devoted to historical dance, which she teaches at the Accademia of the Teatro alla Scala. Her aim was to create a multimedia manual dedicated to her discipline, intended both for her students and for all dance enthusiasts, bringing together explanations, videos of choreographies, and musical excerpts. She quite naturally turned to Les Talens Lyriques for the musical dimension, and I therefore devised a programme encompassing a wide range of styles, from the late Middle Ages to the nineteenth century. While the musical aesthetics are diverse, the project also highlights the continuity of certain choreographic traditions across the centuries – hardly surprising in a world where everyone dances, and where the stakes are as much artistic as they are social.

Following the release of the manual, I am delighted to see this project come to life on stage, alongside dazzling musicians and dancers. I am convinced that this true invitation to dance will captivate the widest possible audience.

Christophe Rousset