My last week in Aix en Provence - Motivating and intense work with the Preljocaj Ballet !

The Pavillon Noir (the Black Cube) was specifically build to house the Preljocaj Ballet. Architect Rudy Ricciotti was commissioned to design the project.

If you go to Aix en Provence, you can visit this building looking as a futuristic cube near the Central Bus Station. The structure is made of black reinforced concrete and the façade is all of black glass.

When the mistral wind blows you can hear the Pavillon creaking from inside and it can be very impressive.

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The building has many dance studios and a performance hall for the Company, on top of that a marvelous vue of the city from the highest floor.

The ground floor is an open space for the office staff of the Company. The first floor includes some dance studios but also a nice kitchen and a relaxing corner for tired and hungry dancers (and pianists ! :-)) who need some brake.

I really love the walls of glass of the building, I have the feeling to be in a infinite space and to float in the air when I am inside of the Pavillon Noir.

The big dance studio at the third floor, offering vue of the South of Aix en Provence and the historical center of the city .
Photos by me with Samsung Ace 2

Juste a little funny anecdote : a few months ago while working in the studio at the top floor we saw a ladder going up to the roof.

Some cat got lost on the top of the building and was sitting up there, in complete panic. We never new how the cat found his way to the roof, because the walls of the building are only made of glass. So during the rescue operation the firefighters enjoyed a private show from the dancers who were jumping in front of the window, and saying "hi". Everything went well and the cat was rescued. :-)

If you want to know more about the Pavillon Noir and visit the inside with video presentation, click HERE

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We can observe immediately that the dancers in this Company are coming from different countries and bakcgrounds. The Preljocaj Ballet has French dancers of course, but also Spanish, Italian, Canadian, Australian, Chinese, Russian, Albanian.. They all have various professional histories and are coming from very different dance schools. We can see that in their way to move and work in class.

But the thing I like the most as a pianist, is that the Preljocaj dancers have a very strong connection with the music, just like their Director. This is not about mechanical movements here, just to make some exercice. Every movement is related to the music. The dancers are often tired, with muscles in pain. But when the music starts to flow, they are always present, no matter what.

I was able to better understand the research of the "musical dancer" while being present at the selection auditions in last November. During one week I was able to feel "physically" how Angelin Preljocaj was listening to the music. He was very demanding about the musical quality and the dancers had to face a real challenge with complexe musical phrases. I was able to understand in that moment why the dancers of the Company have so amazing musical quality.

No teacher or pianist is working here permanently, contrary to the usual practice in dance companies. By imposing a continual change of the technical work with various teachers and music with various pianists, Angelin Preljocaj is maintaining the constant quality and attention of his dancers during the entire season of work.

I love a lot to work with a different teachers each time I go back to the Preljocaj Ballet. It's a new start from zero and it's very motivating and challenging for me. However the permanent thing here is the great musicality of the dancers and a very warm wellcome attitude every time I go back to the Company.

This last time was for me a real, real blast ! Believe me, it's not an easy-peasy thing at all. I had the great chance to meet Libby Farr, american dancer who followed her carrier as a dancer at Berlin Opera. She was invited for a short period of time to work with the Company, as I was too.

Libby has offered to us a great work with complexe rhythmical phrases, not always easy to understand for me. She helped me by being very clear about music and communicating simply and friendly with me, and I thank her a lot.
This week of work gave me a lot of musical richness, as Libby pushed me at my limits. I learned a lot, I made big progress in my work.

Libby has a very sensual and fluid style, on the border between classical and contemporary dance. Her technical work is totally respecting the dancer's body. On top of all that, Libby has a great sens of humour and we spent a great week working hard together but also having a lot of fun !

Could you believe Libby is already a grand-mother ? I can't but it's true !
Photos by me and Léa de Natale with Ipad 2

We filmed an entire working day but unfortunately I am not allowed to post any video here. I share with you two pictures where you can see Libby "waking up" the dancers and also with me at the end of the week.

I must leave you here... my suitcase is waiting to be prepared ! :-) But before I say good bye I would like to share a little picture I made in Aix last week - a magnificent tree starting to blossom. I dedicate this photo to @flamingirl, a sparkling blogger who looks at life through rose-coloured glasses and who is also a dancer.

Photo by me with Ipad 2

Good bye South of France and Bonjour Pariiiiiis !