Body and Soul © Julien Benhamou

Paris Opera Ballet (France)

Crystal Pite

Body and Soul

February 17–23, 2021 | Link available for 7 days
Streaming in Canada only.

With French and English subtitles   
Run time: 100 minutes

 

DanceHouse is thrilled to present the online Canadian premiere of Body and Soul, choreographed by Vancouver’s own Crystal Pite, and performed by the Paris Opera Ballet. Following the phenomenal success of The Seasons’ Canon in 2016, Pite was invited back in 2019 to create a full-length work for thirty-six dancers of the Paris Opera Ballet.

A work in three distinct parts, Body and Soul articulates Pite’s ongoing fascination with conflict, connectedness and the embodiment of the human spirit. The performance begins with voice-over text that describes, in purely physical terms, a scene of conflict between two individuals.

As the performance progresses, the script’s meaning morphs and deepens with each iteration: conflict creates a vital, compelling tension between individuals, between groups, between species. The company’s mastery as an ensemble is evident in Pite’s complex choreographic swarms; individual dancers are virtuosic in breathtaking solos and duets. The dancers evoke scenes of epic protest, profound personal struggle, and collective survival. Body and Soul is a portrait of the human condition that is timeless, vast and heartbreakingly intimate.

Before the performance, there will be a 15-minute pre-recorded exclusive interview with Crystal Pite and the Kidd Pivot creative team, all of whom contributed artistically to the creation of Body and Soul: Owen Belton (Composer), Eric Beauchesne (Assistant to the Choreographer), Nancy Bryant (Costume Designer), Jay Gower Taylor (Set Designer), Jermaine Spivey (Assistant to the Choreographer) and Tom Visser (Lighting Designer).

 

Digidance

This project is an initiative of DanceHouse (Vancouver) in collaboration with Danse Danse (Montreal), Harbourfront Centre (Toronto), the National Arts Centre (Ottawa) and Springboard Performance (Calgary).

Crystal Pite © Michael Slobodian.

"It’s unity, however, that I'm really looking for. Everything I do stems from a desire to connect with people, and to connect people with each other.” – Crystal Pite, choreographer.

THE PARIS OPERA BALLET

The Paris Opera Ballet is one of the most prestigious and oldest classical dance companies in the world. Originally, in 1669 and at the instigation of Jean-Baptiste Colbert, the corps de ballet was integrated into the Royal Academy of Music. Today it is part of the Opéra national de Paris. The 154 dancers give about 180 performances per season. The dancers of the ballet have mostly been trained in its own dance school, considered one of the best in the world. Thus, the ballet of the National Opera of Paris has its own breeding ground and recruits very few from outside, which serves the unity of style of French dance.

ADDITIONAL HISTORY

1661

The founding of the Académie Royale de Danse. It is the first of the academies established by Louis XIV, a lover of dance and himself a highly proficient dancer. Regarder until then as mere entertainment, dance thus enters the circle of the arts. The academy would codify its rules and the way it would be taught.

 

1669

The Founding of the Académie Royale de Musique, the forerunner of the Paris Opera. More than a simple academy, it boasted a troupe of musicians, singers, and, for the first time, dancers – the first professional ballet dancers in history,

 

1713

Louis XIV creates the Conservatoire, the forerunner of the current Paris Opera Ballet School. Henceforth, in order to maintain the highest level of the Opera’s dancers, training is now required of them. The oldest ballet school in the world, it is today located in Nanterre (Paris west suburb) and directed by Élisabth Platel who succeeded Claude Bessy in 2004.

 

1832

First performance of Philippe Tagiono’s La Sylphide, which marks the advent of the romantic ballet and the appearance of the white tutu. It is one of the most performed works with over 350 performances at the Paris Opera.

 

2016

Aurélie Dupont is appointed Director of the Paris Opera Ballet and is the latest in a line of Directors of Dance including Rudolf Nureyev, Patrick Dupond, Brigitte Lefèvre and Benjamin MIllepied.

THE DANCERS

The vast majority of the company dancers have been trained at the Paris Opera School of dance, the oldest dance school in the world. With a daily schedule of dance classes in the morning, rehearsals in the afternoon, and performances in the evening, dancers devote a sizable part of their lives to their art. This is why the Company is able to excel in a classical and neoclassical repertoire, as well as in contemporary creations.

The 154 permanent dancers are part of a very structured and competitive organization. The promotion of dancers takes place each year by competition, class by class, before a jury made up of Paris Opera executives, members of the company, and key figures from the world of dance. Only the Étoiles are nominated by the Paris Opera’s Director, after being proposed by the Director of Dance on the basis of excellence and merit:

  • 16 Étoile dancers
  • 14 Premier dancers
  • 124 dancers in the corps de ballet, itself structured in 39 sujets, 30 coryphées and 55 quadrilles.

The average age of the Paris Opera Ballet’s dancers is 25, currently making it on the youngest companies. Dancers enter at the age of 18 and officially retire from the Ballet at the age of 42.5.

Tickets

Purchase your ticket via The Point of Sale:

  • Note that the performance will be available exclusively to patrons watching in Canada.
  • After signing up and purchasing your ticket, you will receive a confirmation email from The Point of Sale. If you do not see it, please check your junk folder.
  • Prior to the performance, you will receive another email from The Point of Sale with a link to access the performance. The link will be valid from February 17 at 0:00am PST until February 23 at 11:45pm PST
  • The live stream can be played on any screen: on your PC, Mac, laptop, phone or iPad/tablet. For the best experience, we recommend using the largest screen possible, or connecting your laptop to a TV.
  • The performance must be streamed from one device. During the performance, you can pause, rewind and reopen the link as needed.

For a list of frequently asked questions about accessing the performance click here. If you have any troubles accessing the link please contact: boxoffice@dancehouse.ca

Restaurant Partners

DanceHouse is pleased to extend your Parisian experience by offering you two pairing opportunities, French style. 

Faubourg

FaubourgFaubourg Express

Faubourg is pleased to partner once again with DanceHouse and contribute to making the presentation of Body and Soul a truly French experience. Use code DHFAUB to receive one delicious complimentary macaron with any meal order from February 17 to 23, delivered to your home or to be picked up at the Kerrisdale store, operating hours (Mon – Fri: 7:30 am to 6:00 pm. Sat-Sun: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm). Orders must be placed 24 hours prior to delivery (48 hours for certain products). Order via Faubourg Express. 

About Faubourg: Every day, Faubourg showcases its savoir-faire and shares its passion for traditional French breads, viennoiseries, pastries and macarons. It wishes to inspire its customers to adopt the French art de vivre and indulge in the pleasures that fine food can bring.

Note that all photographs were taken prior to COVID-19.

Dip & Sip

Dip & Sip

Dip & Sip is pleased to partner with DanceHouse and offer DanceHouse patrons a 15% discount on pre-orders placed through their website for delivery or pick-up between Feb 17 and 23! Use the promo code DANCEHOUSE to receive your discount. Orders must be placed at least 24 hours in advance and quantities are limited, so pre-order today!

About Dip & Sip: Inspired by French “Apéro”, Dip & Sip offers online ordering and delivery of charcuterie grazing boxes, cocktail kits, and snacks to share. Each box is assembled with care using a variety of fresh and seasonal ingredients bringing taste and cheer right to your doorstep.

Production Sponsors

Anndraya Luui and Sonya Wall

With Support From

Metro Vancouver   Ambassade de France au Canada

Top photo: Paris Opera Ballet,  Body and Soul © Julien Benhamou. Sidebar photo: Crystal Pite © Michael Slobodian.