The Choreographic Ensemble, Performances, Festivals, the ‘Company’
The Chantraine Choreographic Ensemble was formed by Françoise Chantraine in 1987 as the artistic performing group of the School and consists of Chantraine professionals and advanced pupils. The Ensemble has performed frequently in Paris as well as in London, Strasbourg and Geneva.
“It seeks to offer at each of its performances a testimony of ‘a dance of the dynamic of the world, which links the art of choreography with the art of living’ ”.(F.Ch.)
Forthcoming Events
Summer Festivals
Sunday, June 13th, from 4.30 - 6.30pmFestival of the London Chantraine Centre in the Theatre at Haverstock School, Haverstock Hill, Chalk Farm, NW3
The Festival will consist of a programme of choreographies by Françoise Chantraine and creativity by the students, to reflect the year’s dancing and will be performed by pupils of all ages, from 5 - over 80, amateur and professional. It will include excerpts from the recent performance of “Between Sky and Earth”, created by Françoise Chantraine, which celebrated her Golden Jubilee and that of the Chantraine School at the Châtelet Theatre, Paris on May 2nd.
Visitors are welcome. Booking in advance is recommended as seating is limited. Applications for tickets to Patricia Woodall by email or telephone/fax to Email: patricia.woodall@yahoo.com Tel/Fax: 020 7435 4247
Sunday, July 11th Festival of the Wanstead Chantraine Centre. Details from the Wanstead Centre - email kategreen@yahoo.co.uk.
Sunday, July 18th Festival of the High Wycombe Chantraine Centre. Details from the High Wycombe centre - email jgreenstreet@live.co.uk.
Recent performances include:
Golden Jubilee - Françoise Chantraine - Châtelet Theatre, Paris, May 2nd 2010
“Between Sky and Earth”
Over 570 dancers of all ages, from 4 to over 70, professional and amateur, delighted an audience of some 2000 with the performance of “ Entre Ciel et Terre “ ( “Between Sky and Earth”) - Françoise Chantraine’s new ballet celebrating 50 years of the Chantraine School of Dance.
In creating this work, Françoise wrote in the programme, she felt increasingly aware of the importance and presence of two “friends”: the albatross - giant bird, crossing land and sea in all weathers, and the wind which carries it. The albatross has become an emblem of the ballet and the wind - “wind of life - a “leitmotif”..….
The huge, historic Châtelet theatre was alive with children, teenagers, adults making their way from the balconies down to the stage and back again, to dance in a “wonderful, beautiful, inspiring Festival”, as a spectator wrote afterwards. It was an immensely joyful and moving evidence of the profound and timeless artistry of Françoise Chantraine.
From Juliette, a dancer
“I was backstage waiting for my turn to enter the mythic stage of Châtelet when one of the dancers told me: “It’s a miracle!”“Entre Ciel et Terre”, the latest show by Françoise Chantraine was indeed magical! She took on a real challenge: more than 500 dancers in total from several towns in France and England, aged 5 to 85 and sometimes even 65 on stage at a time! I was part of the English company led by Patricia Woodall.
Pure joy to the dancers and pure beauty for the spectators!
Look forward to a future performance in 2011!”
Previous performances include:
May 2006“Stone and Light” - at St. Séverin, Paris, a choreographic concert of dance, live music and the spoken word.Mar 2007“Roads and Pathways “ - Paris 14e
May 2008“Spirals of Shadow and Light” - at LSO St. Luke’s, London, celebrating 30 years of Chantraine in England
Festivals and the ‘Company’
Festivals are held annually in each of the three Centres - London, High Wycombe, and Wanstead. On these occasions, the School becomes a ‘Company’, which includes pupils and students of all ages and levels, together with the professionals. From time to time, pupils also take part in other performances, for example, the Redbridge Dance Link Festival and the Camden Summer Dance Festival.Chantraine Manifesto
Everything in the world is movement. As we take part individually in this universal rhythm, we need to feel it, to receive it. Dance is nourished by the pulses of life. Expression of life, it has to discover life's true riches. Knowing how to listen, to understand, it will know how to express and discover in its turn.
Then dance is life, it is élan.
Elan of the spirit as well as of the body. From their perfect understanding is born beauty of movement, of gesture - that movement through which an intention flows.
But movement only attains its truth if it really springs from the depths of the being.
To dance, yes, to dance the Dance, the dance of the dynamic of the World. To dance Joy.”
Alain Chantraine, June 1959
