The Dancer[s]: neoclassical dance at the 13ème Art

The François Mauduit Choreographic Company celebrates its 20th anniversary with The Dancer[s], presented at the 13ème Art on December 9 and 10. Directed by François Mauduit, former soloist with Maurice Béjart, the troupe offers an immersion into the career of a dancer through a show that combines personal narrative, artistic memory, and homage to the great figures of dance. This anniversary marks an important milestone for a company that prides itself on its neoclassical roots and its constant desire to bring audiences closer to the world of live performance.

Conceived as a sensitive and sometimes offbeat journey, The Dancer[s] tracs the career of a performer, from a childhood dedicated to learning to the international stage. The show invites the audience to follow a path marked by dreams, physical demands, artistic aspirations, and decisive encounters. François Mauduit revisits his own journey, evoking both his early days as a petit rat at the Paris Opera and his experience with Maurice Béjart. The ensemble offers a tender, energetic, and introspective look at a profession that combines rigor, passion, and endurance, in a form accessible to audiences familiar with dance as well as those seeking an original cultural outing.

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On stage, twelve dancers from major international companies—such as La Scala in Milan, the Royal Swedish Ballet, the Bordeaux Opera, and the Capitole in Toulouse—take part in this choreographic fresco. The piece combines classical techniques, contemporary writing, and diverse influences in a world where music intersects and responds to one another. This diversity feeds into a show conceived as a dream in motion, where interpretation and virtuosity unfold through a succession of scenes evoking the life of an artist between the stage and the wings.

The creation is a continuation of the work carried out by François Mauduit since the professional founding of his company in 2006. Trained atthe Paris Opera Ballet School and influenced by four years with Maurice Béjart's company, the choreographer has been developing a repertoire nourished by classical and contemporary references for two decades. His troupe, which enjoys widespread recognition in France and abroad, has given more than 500 performances and reached nearly 250,000 spectators. This longevity testifies to a commitment to the dissemination of dance, a focus on transmission, and a constant search for artistic excellence.

The Dancer[s] is thus an emblematic piece in the company's 2025/2026 anniversary season, bringing together renowned performers and a choreographic language that combines precision, energy, and narrative meaning. The show can be seen at the 13ème Art on December 9 and 10.