Joséphine, The Rite of Spring
September 2025 | ||||||
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Joséphine / The Rite of Spring | Dance
Joséphine Baker revisited by Germaine Acogny and The Rite of Spring by Pina Bausch performed by African dancers.
A new season, a new direction for the Theatre, and right from the start, the major themes are set: cherish the memory of the past and embrace the boldness of the present. It took a figure as iconic as Joséphine Baker, whose centenary of her first appearance in Paris in 2025 and the fiftieth anniversary of her passing are celebrated, to represent both the history of the Theatre and the narrative of the modern era. Reconnecting with the past also means, once again, resonating with The Rite of Spring. Bringing together the figure of Joséphine and that of Pina Bausch, one of the most inventive personalities in European dance, seemed almost natural.
Program and cast
JOSÉPHINE
World Premiere
Germaine Acogny | performer
Germaine Acogny, Alesandra Seutin | choreography
Mikael Serre | direction, dramaturgy
Fabrice Bouillon-LaForest | original music
Fabiana Piccioli, Enrico Bagnoli | lighting, set design
Chanel | costumes
Recorded music
THE RITE OF SPRING
Premiered on December 3, 1975, at the Wuppertal Opera
Pina Bausch | choreography
Igor Stravinsky | music
Rolf Borzic | set design and costumes
Hans Pop | collaboration
Josephine Ann Endicott, Jorge Puerta Armenta, Clémentine Deluy | artistic direction
Dancers from 13 countries across the African continent
Les Siècles
Antonello Manacorda | conductor
Production Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, in collaboration with Productions Internationales Albert Sarfati / TranscenDanses
With the support of Pina Bausch Foundation, Écoles des Sables, Sadler’s Wells
Co-production Théâtre de la Ville, Paris | Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg | Holland Festival, Amsterdam | Festspielhaus, St Pölten | Ludwigsburg Festival | Teatros del Canal de la Comunidad de Madrid, Adelaide Festival, and Spoleto Festival dei 2Mondi.
The project is funded by the German Federal Cultural Foundation (Kulturstiftung des Bundes), the Ministry of Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia, the Goethe-Institut’s International Co-production Fund, and supported by Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch.
With the support of Chanel
Théâtre des Champs-Élysées
The Théâtre des Champs- Elysées is undoubtedly one of the finest venues in Paris . Built in 1913 , it has the distinction of having been designed by a group of artists architects Henry Van de Velde and Auguste Perret , the painter and sculptor Antoine Bourdelle , the painter Maurice Denis , and the crystal- René Lalique to do mention the main ones . He was the first Parisian theater to be built entirely of reinforced concrete.
Restoration of the Great Hall devoted to operatic performances , symphony concerts and dance was decided in 1985. Two years later , on 23 September 1987, the theater reopened its doors , completely renovated. Fifteen years after this important work it was decided to undertake a new renovation campaign , but to prevent the complete closure of the theater for an entire season , work is now carried by step during the summer . Then it is to replace aging equipment , to remedy wear certain parts of the theater and improve spectator comfort and artists during their visit . Thus in recent years, including the work involved the renovation of marble facade, replacing the carpet in the room with wooden floors , installation of a new fully decorated wooden concert to a significant improvement of acoustics, the orchestra pit and stage below .
The Théâtre des Champs- Elysées is now a modern working tool receiving each year nearly 300,000 spectators and a few thousands of artists and collaborators.
The Théâtre des Champs- Elysées , the jewel of French architecture of the twentieth century, was in 1953 one of the first buildings of contemporary architectural heritage to be classified as historic monuments . Since 1970 the Caisse des Dépôts owns the entire building 15 avenue Montaigne and principal patron of the theater.
For over a century, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées has been the place where the most celebrated artists have come to make their names in Paris. The world’s finest orchestras and world-class soloists have always been a fixture at the Theatre. Théâtre des Champs-Elysées presents more than 200 concerts each year and is renowned for its outstanding performances of all genres, from classical music concerts and staged opera to contemporary dance and jazz.
How to reach us:
Subway: Alma-Marceau (line 9), Franklin D.Roosevelt (line 1), Pont de l’Alma (RER line C)
Bus: n° 42, 63, 72, 80, 92
Taxi station: Place de l’Alma, corner of avenue George V
Car park: Alma George V. The entrance is in front of n° 19, avenue George V
Fixed rate depending on the length of the performance. Payment upon entering.