By Marisa Hayes Balletomanes often complain that Paris is lacking in classical ballet performances. And while it may seem paradoxical for a city so fundamental to the history of ballet, the French capital abounds with contemporary dance. Even the Paris Opera Ballet has increasingly expanded into postmodern, contemporary, and dance theatre productions, leaving a meagre
By Marisa C. Hayes “How would you dance if you knew you were going to die?” asked Pina Bausch in 1975 while choreographing her expressionist The Rite of Spring. Now a cast of dancers from 14 African nations explores the same question amid the backdrop of an ongoing pandemic that grounded their international tour in
By Marisa C. Hayes As theatres across France kicked off the new season at full audience capacity, I found myself wondering how our experience of the Coronavirus pandemic informs the way we appreciate dance. Are we viewing performances through a pandemic gaze? Just as individuals living under lockdown often took time to reassess their lives,