Based on Johann Sebastian Bach’s Art of Fugue, Close Up is an inventive choreographic work that uses video to reveal different dimensions of body and movement.

Performed by 6 dancers and 5 musicians, Close Up will premiere at the Avignon Festival in July 2024. This creation represents a synthesis and a deepening of the research carried out in Noé Soulier’s latest work. It continues his exploration of the relationship with live music, already present in Faits et gestes (2016), The Waves (2018) and First Memory (2022). Noé Soulier, for Close Up will collaborate with musicians on stage from baroque ensemble Il Convito, directed by Maude Gratton. This work also extends his research with live video and the relationship between the camera and the dancers explored in his movie Fragments.

Conception and choreography: Noé Soulier
With: Julie Charbonnier, Nangaline Gomis, Yumiko Funaya, Samuel Planas, Mélisande Tonolo, Gal Zusmanovich

Music: pieces from Johann Sebastian Bach’s Art of Fugue, Musical Offering and sonatas.
Interpreted by Ensemble Il Convito: Maude Gratton (harpsichord and artistic direction), Amelie Michel (traverso), Sophie Gent or Christine Busch (violon), Claire Gratton (viola de gamba), Ageet Zweistra (cello)

Assistant: Stephanie Amurao
Video: Pierre Martin Oriol
Lighting: Kelig Le Bars
Costume design: Kaye Voyce
Costume making: Atelier couture Angers Nantes Opéra

Production: Cndc – Angers
Coproduction: Il Convito, Théâtre de la Ville (Paris), Angers Nantes Opéra, Romaeuropa Festival, Espaces Pluriels Scène conventionnée danse (Pau), Theater Freiburg, Arsenal Cité musicale de Metz, Maison de la danse Pôle européen de création (Lyon), Théâtre Auditorium de Poitiers, Chaillot Théâtre national de la danse (Paris)
With the support of OARA (residency program), Villa Albertine and Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels

2024

July 15-20: Festival d’Avignon, Opera Grand Avignon – Avignon (FR)
October 9-10: Cndc – Angers (FR)
October 16: RomaEuropa Festival, Teatro Argentina – Rome (IT)
November 7: euro-scene Leipzig – Leipzig (DE)
November 27-28: La Comédie de Valence, Centre dramatique national Drôme-Ardèche – Valence (FR)
December 7: Theater Freiburg – Freiburg (DE)

2025

January 18-19: Festival Waterproof, Opéra de Rennes – Rennes (FR)
January 25-26: Festival Trajectoires, Angers Nantes Opéra, Théâtre Graslin – Nantes (FR)
January 28: Le Quartz - Scène nationale de Brest – Brest (FR)
January 31: TAP - Théâtre Auditorium de Poitiers – Poitiers (FR)
February 5: Espaces Pluriels – Pau (FR)
February 7: Scène Nationale du Sud-Aquitain – Anglet (FR)
February 11: Théâtre des Quatre Saisons – Gradignan (FR)
March 11-13: Théâtre de la Ville – Paris (FR)
March 27: Cité musicale-Metz, Arsenal Jean-Marie Rausch – Metz (FR)