During 2-5 April 2011, Pavilion Dance, the new dance centre in Bournemouth was buzzing with activity as French choreographers and dancers arrived on the South Coast as part of its European cultural exchange programme. The French artists performed a variety of exceptional pieces including three UK premieres, as well as led professional master classes and workshops for dancers of all ages and abilities.

Artists from National Choreographic Centres in Caen and Le Havre performed at Pavilion Dance as a result of DanSCe Dialogues, which was a two-year Anglo-French cultural exchange. DanSCe Dialogues focused on the development of a long-term partnership between South West England and Normandy in the field of contemporary dance, which benefitted its artists and dancers, producers and performance venues, administrative staff and audiences. Since its launch in September 2010, DanSCe Dialogues gave professionals from both sides of the Channel the chance to discuss choreographic work, created touring opportunities, learned through tailored training about the French and British cultural systems, and offered residencies to French and South West dance companies and artists in Spring 2011.

The DanSCe Dialogues project was selected within the context of the European programme of cross-border cooperation Interreg IV A France (Channel) – England, co-financed by ERDF.

As part of DanSCE Dialogues, British choreographers Seeta Patel and Jane Mason were invited to France to perform, carried out workshops in schools and undertook training as part of the cultural exchange. French groups reciprocated and presented their work during 2-5 April 2011 to South West audiences as part of Pavilion Dance’s celebration of international dance, which also featured artists from India.

The French groups included Delphine Caron, a leading Hip-hop artist, Hervé Robbe, director of the Centre Chorégraphique National du Havre and Héla Fattoumi and Eric Lamoureux from Centre Chorégraphique National de Caen. Delphine Caron from Companie Point Zéro also travelled to Plymouth for a four-day residency organised by Dance South West as part of DanSCe Dialogues.

Kate Castle, Executive Director of Pavilion Dance and Dance South West, who has helped pioneer the exchange with her French counterparts said at the time: “We are proud to be hosting our neighbours in a cross-channel partnership as it has resulted in unique learning opportunities for our professionals as well as superb performances for our audiences.”

“An outstanding aspect of the April programme is the collaboration between Hervé Robbe and British Turner-prize winning sculptor Richard Deacon, who has designed the set for Robbe’s new duet and will be speaking about his work. Working with such collaborators across Europe helps put Pavilion Dance firmly on the cultural map.”

Programmed activities during 2-5 April also included work from Pavilion Dance’s UK-India cultural exchange with Indian artists performing martial arts, Contemporary and Classical dance, both French and Indian artists lead professional company master classes, talks and performances and workshops.

Dance Programme - Saturday 2- Tuesday 5 April 2011

In an exhilarating festival which celebrated international dance, Pavilion Dance presented artists from India, Africa and France. The performance programme was accompanied by interactive events and activities for all ages.

Sat 2 April  - Bold Moves was a packed afternoon performance which featured global urban dance artists featuring Companie Point Zéro’s  French Hip-hop artist Delphine Caron with a live DJ, two male duets by Indian martial art and dance artists plus short works by Beat and Shake, two of Bournemouth’s finest Hip-hop crews.

Tue 5 April  - Pavilion Dance presented French Double Bill; two powerful works from French choreographers; Centre Chorégraphique National de Caen’s Héla Fattoumi and Eric Lamoureux’s Solstice (remix) -  a dramatic duet of love and struggle between a man and woman and Centre Chorégraphique National du Havre’s Hervé Robbe who presented a sophisticated duet, Un terrain encore vague, in collaboration with set designer and Turner Prize-winning sculptor, Richard Deacon.

Performance tickets £8 each. Hip-hop, African, Indian and Contemporary dance classes, family friendly martial art workshops, talks and free performances.

IVA France (Channel) – England, co-financed by ERDF.