Last December, in the AlUla desert, where imposing rock formations contrast with the endless sky, a unique artistic experience came to life. Crossings, the first collaboration between Villa Hegra and the Paris Opera, transcends the boundaries of contemporary dance. Conceived by Noé Soulier, this work engages in a dialogue with nature and explores the relationship between bodies and the landscape.
Villa Hegra: A cultural platform between nature and modernity
Villa Hegra stands out for its mission to promote intercultural exchange and inspire creations that transcend artistic disciplines. Located in the heart of AlUla, it draws upon 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 opted for radical simplicity: no music, no lights, no stage. The dancers move on the ground, their movements harmonizing with the sounds of the sand, the wind, and the birds. After the performance, I was able to interview him: "When you're in a place as powerful as AlUla, you have to know when to step back."
“The idea is to create a total experience—sound, visual, and physical—to convey 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 world’s finest ballet schools, embody this fusion of nature and art.
The Junior Ballet: Incubator of Excellence
Created in 2024, the Junior Ballet of the Paris Opera offers young dancers a unique opportunity to improve 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 interacts with the environment. This project represents a key moment in their journey, where dance becomes an exploration as much as a performance.
A performance designed for the desert
Our Habitas AlUla, with its easy access yet immersive setting, allowed us to overcome logistical constraints while preserving the authenticity of the experience. For Soulier, this balance between practicality and immersion was essential: "If we had been truly in the middle of the desert, it would have been very complicated to bring the audience and the dancers."
The scale of the space also plays a central role in the choreography. As the dancers move, their size seems to change, becoming almost invisible on the horizon before suddenly reappearing. "There's a moment when they lie down and look at the sky. This also invites the viewer to contemplate the rock faces and the sky," Soulier explains.
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's a commission from the Ballet, but it's possible we'll perform it elsewhere in the future. That would be fantastic," Soulier hopes.
With Crossings, Noé Soulier enriches his work by incorporating the uniqueness of the AlUla desert, offering a new perspective on contemporary dance.
A vision for the future
For the viewer, Crossings is not simply a performance. It is an invitation to rediscover the relationship between humankind and its environment. This approach also forms part of a creative continuum: 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.
