The Dance Biennial

6 to 28 September 2025: a 21^st edition with a Brazilian flavour

Promoting dance as an universal language, the Lyon's festival will be more outward looking than ever this year. In addition to the launch of "Forum", which offers artists from outside Europe a new space for exchange and experimentation, the 2025 edition will put the spotlight on Brazil to mark the 2025 Brazil-France season, which celebrates 200 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries. In total, eight shows and performances by Brazilian artists will be presented, three of which for the first time in France: ‘VAPOR : Ocupação Infiltrável’ by Original Bomber Crew; ‘Borda’ by choreographer Lia Rodrigues; and ‘Eu não sou só eu em mim’, by choreographer Alejandro Ahmed with Grupo Cena 11.

Freshness will be the watchword at the Biennale, which has lined up no less than 24 newly created works and French premieres out of 40 shows! These exciting new arrivals include the world premiere of Leather Better, created by choreographer Andréa Givanovitch, in which a simple leather jacket inspires experimentation and reflection; and there is the world premiere of ‘Nuits transfigurées’, a show imagined by three choreographers, each offering their vision of night, at the Lyon Opera House. 

Also new in 2025 is the show ‘360’ by Mehdi Kerkouche – choreographer of the stars. It will be the culminating point of the traditional parade on Place Bellecour, on Sunday 7 September. This year, 8 groups and a guest group from Brazil will take part in the beautiful walking show. Starting at 4 pm, they will make their way down Rue de la République to the theme of ‘Recycled Dances’. Don’t miss this joyous, popular gathering! 

Where to see the Dance Biennale?

During the festival, choreographies are performed throughout Greater Lyon. During 3 weeks, more than 50 places in the metropolitan area and in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region receive performances. Among them were the Théâtre de la Croix-Rousse, the Charlie Chaplin cultural centre in Vaulx-en-Velin, Le Toboggan in Décines, Les Subs, the banks of the Saône in Lyon’s 1st district, and the TNP in Villeurbanne. We must not forget to mention the Maison de la Danse, of course, which is one of the event’s main venues each time it is held! The Lyon Dance Biennale is therefore also a chance to (re)discover iconic, historic and cultural places in Lyon and the surrounding area.

Birth of a biennial ballet

In 1984, Guy Darmet had a novel and ambitious idea to create a festival dedicated to contemporary dance in Lyon. The Lyon Dance Biennale was born! The association that initiated the project was supported by the City of Lyon and the Maison de la Danse, whose director was then Guy Darmet. The aim was to promote accessibility in an artistic discipline that is fascinating yet hard to understand, and to bring it to the widest possible audience. Even though it attracted 30,000 spectators in its first year, the association did not manage to break even. The mayor of Lyon at the time, Francisque Collomb, therefore proposed to continue the project by alternating it: first with the Hector Berlioz International Music Festival; then later, beginning in 1991, with the Contemporary Art Biennale. In 2011, this organisation was named ‘La Biennale de Lyon’ (the Lyon Biennale). 

Celebratory spirit

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Stéphane Rambaud

From the outset, Guy Darmet wanted to spark the curiosity of the people of Lyon and introduce them to contemporary dance forms, stemming from different traditions and countries. This involved performances, of course, but much more than that. The audience was invited to enter the world of dance by taking part in classes and gatherings. It was an eclectic, fun, unifying and modern festival.

In 2012, Guy Darmet was replaced by the choreographer Dominique Hervieu, who was then followed by Tiago Guedes, in 2022. While the spirit of the festival has remained unchanged, its new director plans to bring together the Maison de la Danse, the Lyon Biennale and the Dance Workshops within the project ‘ON(L)Y Danse – un futur partagé pour la danse à Lyon’ (ON(L)Y Danse – a shared future for dance in Lyon). The aim is to give them a common identity, while creating an ambitious artistic space and raising the festival’s profile on the global stage.

Highlights and previous years

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(La)Horde / Biennale de Lyon

Every two years, the Lyon Dance Biennale makes a lasting impression. Firstly thanks to its parade, first introduced in 1996 and now an essential part of the event, where the whole city is invited to move, sing, celebrate, and honour outdoor dancing in the heart of Lyon, the capital of the Gauls! The parade sets the tone and the theme of each Biennale, such as ‘The Silk Road’ in 2000, ‘Legends of the Future’ in 2008 and ‘For Peace’ in 2016.

It was during the Terra Latina edition, in 2002, that the dance classes on the square of Place des Terreaux were organised for the first time, which have now become a fixture of the Biennale. With the aim of encouraging public involvement and sharing with as wide an audience as possible, in 2015, ‘Fabrique de l'amateur’ was created, including a kids dance battle, a flashmob and other artistic experiences that bring together amateur and professional dancers.