Under the leadership of Artistic Director Carolyn Carlson since 2005, the National Choreographic Centre Roubaix Nord-Pas de Calais has developed two core areas of activity: creating new choreographic works and running projects that question and redefine the links between dance and contemporary society.
New works
Each year Carolyn Carlson creates choreographic works with her company that are performed in front of local audiences and toured around the world. Seven pieces are currently available for touring: Inanna, Down by the river, Les Rêves de Karabine Klaxon, Double Vision, Hidden, eau et Blue Lady [Revisited].
Events in the Nord-Pas de Calais region
The setting is a powerful source of inspiration for Carolyn Carlson; she loves creating events in novel places. Water Born, in June 2007, was a unique choreographic event performed in the Art Deco swimming pool at Bruay-La-Buissière by 15 dancers from the Carolyn Carlson Company, 15 pupils from the Conservatoire de Roubaix and 25 local amateur actors.
Another memorable event was the carte blanche given to Carolyn Carlson by the City of Roubaix in the context of the Journées du Patrimoine (France's nationwide heritage open days). She was invited to perform original choreographic pieces in a variety of different venues across the city.
Events and initiatives are also run for the local population to promote well-being, self-confidence and sociability through intense, unforgettable experiences. Valfresco, for example, brought together about 60 inhabitants of Valenciennes aged 3 to 78, directed by Luca Silvestrini, on the stage of Le Phénix national theatre; Dansewindows, short pieces choreographed by some of Carolyn Carlson's key performers, went out to win over audiences in disadvantaged areas of rural towns; and the Centre's Breakfast Classes are using creativity to promote public health by combining dance workshops with nutrition lessons.
Supporting young creativity
Numerous independent companies from the region and beyond are helped by the National Choreographic Centre Roubaix Nord-Pas de Calais. The Guest Company scheme in particular gives companies the means to achieve autonomy by providing active support for the production of their works, refining their artistic approach and structuring their activities. Brahim Bouchelaghem's company Zahrbat is the Choreographic Centre's current guest company. The Juha Marsalo company received its support before that.
Passing dance on
With this same objective of passing dance on, in addition to its dance school which teaches contemporary and classical dance to almost 200 pupils, the National Choreographic Centre runs teaching initiatives in association with several schools, institutions and artistic partners.
Touring and large audiences
Thanks to the diversity of its activities, the National Choreographic Centre Roubaix Nord-Pas de Calais puts on around 100 performances a year, ranking it one of the top five French national choreographic centres to tour the most in France and around the world. Every year over 40,000 spectators watch shows by the National Choreographic Centre Roubaix Nord-Pas de Calais.
