This book is a journey into the heart of dance interpretation. Reflecting on his career, Jean-Christophe Paré invites us to follow the sensory paths that have shaped his dance movements. He recalls pivotal artistic encounters—with Carolyn Carlson, Merce Cunningham, François Verret, Lucinda Childs, Francine Lancelot, and many others—each a landscape where his movements became imbued with meaning and imagery. Exploring the inner-bodily life of the performing dancer, he describes its sensory atmospheres, energetic landscapes, emotional currents, and vibrant hues. In doing so, he turns his gaze to the very essence of the dance movement. Straddling sensitive reflection and analysis of dance movement and its memory, this book offers a unique immersion into the dancer’s experience—where the gesture takes shape before it becomes visible.
A dancer, choreographer, and educator, Jean-Christophe Paré has forged a remarkable career with the Paris Opera Ballet, where he immersed himself in the most demanding choreographic works. A member of the GRCOP, he went on to serve as director of the Paris National Conservatory of Music and Dance from 2014 to 2018. Today, he continues his work in teaching and creation, transforming the performer’s body into a living memory of dance.