Le Centre national de la danse
France's Centre national de la danse (CND) is a public institution founded in 1998 by the Ministry of Culture and Communication as a resource centre and creative pole for the world of dance.
The CND has a four-fold mission: to contribute to the development of dance culture, to promote new creative work, to offer a teaching environment of the highest quality, and to provide personal support for dance professionals.
In pursuit of these aims, the Centre is a unique institution promoting access to the world of dance and choreography, with a lively programme of artists in residence, support for the creation and promotion of new works, exhibitions highlighting its permanent collections, and teaching.
Under the title Corps Accords, the Centre's 2009-10 season reflects the diversity of its activities, and its eclecticism, with a wide-ranging line-up of artists. "We want to share the direct experience of dance in all its vibrant intensity," says director Monique Barbaroux.
Inspirational post-modern director and choreographer Trisha Brown, Mathilde Monnier (director of the Centre chorégraphique national de Montpellier-Languedoc-Roussillon), and guest company Salia nï Seydou (on a long-term residency at the Centre) will be invited to create dance projects with the CND's public. Exhibitions will include a retrospective of Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, and portraits of two contemporary dance companies – Pascale Houbin's Non de Nom and Olivier Dubois's COD. Plus numerous workshops, screenings, dance recitals and choreographed talks.
As a member of the Cercle CND-Entreprises, the Fondation d’entreprise Hermès is establishing a dialogue with an active, grass-roots institution working to support the dance world.
