In Step with the Seasons

In 17th and 18th century France, commoners simply danced while the aristocracy practiced “la belle danse”. King Louis XIV liked to combine graceful feet and arm gestures in a display for his courtiers, refined complex movements with a proud demeanour. Over time these were integrated into the codes of classical ballet. The choreographer Thierry Malandain was inspired by an idea created in Versailles by Laurent Brunner and Stefan Plewniak. He revived the model and it emerged as Les Saisons. He pairs The Four Seasons of Vivaldi with a lesser-known work of the same name by Giovanni Antonio Guido, an obscure contemporary - they were born within three years of each other - whose musical career was at court of the Sun King.

No doubt, dance fans will recall the Malandain Ballet Biarritz performance of Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony at the Teatro de la Maestranza in 2021. In its 2023 premiere, Les Saisons shows the impact of human beings in nature. Gradually deteriorating, the cycle of seasons fades away bit by bit and disappears from our lives in the end. The black petals are the backdrop to a show of vibrant elegance where the beauty of dance evokes a harmony that has been lost. The piece will be performed by 22 dancers.


Premiere on 25 November, 2023 at the Palais des Festivals of Cannes - Festival de Danse de Cannes-Còte d’Azur