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

Music: pieces from Johann Sebastian Bach Art of Fugue, and extract from Sonate n2 for violon solo
Interpreted by Ensemble il Convito:
Maude Gratton, harpsichord and artistic direction
Amelie Michel, traverso
Sophie Gent or Christine Busch, violon
Claire Gratton, viola da gamba
Ageet Zweistra or Keiko Gomi, cello

Assistant: Stephanie Amurao
Artistic collaboration: Julie Charbonnier, Nangaline Gomis, Yumiko Funaya, Samuel Planas, Mélisande Tonolo, Gal Zusmanovich
Scenography: Noé Soulier, Kelig le Bars and Pierre Martin Oriol
Light: Kelig Le Bars
Lighting management: Nicolas Bazoge
Video: Noé Soulier and Pierre Martin Oriol
Sound engineering and video management: Jérôme Tuncer

Head of production: Céline Chouffot
Tour manager: Adèle Thébault

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 28-29: 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)
March 11-13: Théâtre de la Ville – Paris (FR)
March 20-21: Royal Ballet and Opera, part of the Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels Festival in London (GB)
March 27: Cité musicale-Metz, Arsenal Jean-Marie Rausch – Metz (FR)