After eight years away, the Béjart Ballet Lausanne returns to the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès in Cannes with an unprecedented programme, joined by The Pôle National Supérieur de Danse (PNSD) Rosella Hightower.

Three iconic works by Maurice Béjart, never before performed in Cannes, will take centre stage: The Rite of Spring, Béjart et nous and Boléro. A rare opportunity to discover the full richness and distinctive character of his choreographic universe.

A major work in the 20th-century choreographic repertoire, Maurice Béjart’s The Rite of Spring transforms Igor Stravinsky’s revolutionary score into a visceral, intense and deeply organic dance. Driven by a striking collective energy, this creation celebrates the force of movement, the power of the human body and the mystery of renewal. For this performance, the Béjart Ballet Lausanne will be joined by dancers from The Pôle National Supérieur de Danse (PNSD) Rosella Hightower in Mougins, near Cannes.

With Béjart et nous, the company pays tribute to its founder and the artistic legacy he left behind. Through this choreographic medley conceived by Julien Favreau, the dancers bring Maurice Béjart’s spirit back to life, along with his choreographic freedom and his universal vision of dance. This work bears witness to the unbreakable bond between the artists and their master, while celebrating the vitality of a repertoire that continues to captivate generations.

Finally, a true masterpiece of contemporary dance, Boléro is one of Maurice Béjart’s most iconic creations. Set to the hypnotic, repetitive music of Maurice Ravel, a male or female dancer, positioned at the centre of a red table, gradually draws an ensemble of bodies into a mesmerising crescendo. From the very first beat to the final explosion, the choreography builds a magnetic tension, transforming the work into a moment of absolute communion between melody, movement and audience.