Last December, in the AlUla desert, where towering rock formations contrast with the infinite sky, a unique artistic experience came to life. Crossings, the first collaboration between Villa Hegra and the Opéra National de Paris, transcends the boundaries of contemporary dance. Conceived by Noé Soulier, this work dialogues with nature and questions the relationship between bodies and landscape.
Villa Hegra: A cultural platform between nature and modernity
Villa Hegra is distinguished by its mission to promote intercultural exchange and inspire creations that transcend artistic disciplines. Located in the heart of AlUla, it is based on the visionary architecture of Lacaton & Vassal, with an emphasis on humility and collaboration with nature.
A tribute to nature, without artifice
With Crossings, choreographer Noé Soulier has opted for radical simplicity: no music, no lights, no stage. The dancers move on the ground, their movements harmonizing with the sounds of sand, wind and birds. After the performance, I asked him, "When you're in a place as powerful as AlUla, you have to know how to withdraw".
"The idea is to produce a total experience - sound, visual and physical - to make people feel this landscape through dance," he adds. This minimalist artistic choice sublimates the fragility and power of the desert. The 18 dancers of the Junior Ballet, selected from the best ballet schools in the world, embody this fusion of nature and art.
Junior Ballet: Incubator of excellence
Created in 2024, the Junior Ballet de l'Opéra de Paris offers young dancers a unique opportunity to perfect their skills while exploring contemporary and classical repertoires.
For Crossings, the dancers had to adapt to a dance rooted in the ground, where each gesture dialogues with the environment. This project represents a key moment in their career, where dance becomes an exploration as much as a performance.
A performance designed for the desert
Our Habitas AlUla, with its easy access but immersive setting, overcame logistical constraints while preserving the authenticity of the experience. For Soulier, this balance between practicality and immersion was essential: "If we had really been in the middle of the desert, it would have been very complicated to bring the audience and the dancers."
The scale of the site also plays a central role in the choreography. As the dancers move, their size seems to vary, becoming almost invisible on the horizon before suddenly reappearing. "There's a moment when they lie back and look up at the sky. This also invites the spectator to contemplate the rock walls and the sky," describes Soulier.
A work open to new horizons
Although created for AlUla, Crossings was conceived as a modular work, capable of traveling and adapting to other contexts. "It was commissioned by the Ballet, but it's possible that it will be performed elsewhere in the future. That would be great," hopes Soulier.
With Crossings, Noé Soulier enriches his work by integrating the uniqueness of the AlUla desert, offering a new perspective on contemporary dance.
A vision for the future
For the spectator, Crossings is more than just a performance. It's an invitation to rediscover the relationship between man and his environment. This approach is also part of a creative continuity: after Crossings, Noé Soulier will present a new piece at the Théâtre de la Ville in Paris next March, offering another artistic immersion, this time in an urban setting.
