Premier(s) Pas

A novel initiative combining career management, artistic creation,
and renowned choreographers to accelerate French dancers.

 

Imagined by Edmond de Rothschild Foundations and choreographers Abou and Nawal Lagraa, Premier(s) Pas is an unprecedented initiative for dancers from diverse backgrounds.

It is a program that both furthers the artistry of their craft through new creations, as well as fills the vacuum in their skillset from a lack of career training in their education. This program gives 10 dancers (who were selected out of 750 applicants) the keys to succeed in their careers.
 

The challenge

Dancers in France are faced with an incredibly high barrier to entry to their career fraught with obstacles to consistent employ. Choreographers Abou and Nawal Lagraa and Edmond de Rothschild Foundations conceived the program Premier(s) Pas to face this problem head-on.

Our ambition

Premier(s) Pas is both a creative process combining artistic interpretation and form, as well as an acceleration of the dancer's career.

Promoting more diversity in contemporary dance 

by selecting dancers from widely varying backgrounds 

Consolidating the career of each participant

by giving them the tools they need to build a rich and varied career 

Using an innovative approach to the training of dancer-performers

by setting up a truly unique program with a 360° approach

Our solutions

Renowned Choreographers

Created in 1997 by the danser and choreographer Abou Lagraa, the Compagnie la Baraka invested in the Chapelle Sainte-Marie d'Annonay in 2018 and is currently where the choreographers, dancers, workshops, and shows come together

 

Artistic Creation

Premier(s) Pas is also a dance piece in two parts. The world premiere was held at the festival Suresnes Cités Danse in January 2020, with further performances at the Théâtre de la Ville in Luxembourg in November 2020 and at the Théâtre National de Chaillot in 2021 

A Complete and Unique Career Training Program

Managed by dance professionals, this training covers all aspects of a dancer's career in the 21st century - branding, marketing, business creation, etc.

Results

720

applicants for the 2019-2020 season

10

dancers selected

14

training sessions during the 2019-2020 season