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Françoise Denieau

Biography

Studied classical ballet at the Dance School within Opéra National de Paris, where she subsequently received her first engagement. She concurrently attended courses led by Lilian Arlen and Nyota Inyoka. Later on in her professional career she focused on contemporary dance. In 1972 she left Opéra National and together with Jacques Garnier and Brigitte Lefevre established Théâtre du Silence. She also appeared in performances given by Dominique Bagouet’s and Quentin Rouiller’s ensembles, her partners being Joseph Russillo, Félix Blaska and Peter Goss. She is also interested in neoclassical dance techniques. The Indian dancer Malavika Sarukkai led her to the traditional dance Bharatanatyam, which Françoise Denieau subsequently studied in India. Through studying Baroque dance with the French specialist Francine Lancelot she extended her range to include historical dance. In 1987 she became a member of the ensemble Ris et Danceries, where she danced and taught; at the same time, she was assistant to the choreographer Francine Lancelot. From 2002 to 2004 Francine Lancelot entrusted her with the choreography to Bach’s Suite II at Opéra National de Paris – Garnier. Since 1993 she has also worked as a pedagogue and choreographer at Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles under the artistic guidance of Olivier Schneebeli. Her own choreographies include Lully’s Le Triomphe de l’Amour for Opéra royal du château de Versailles, Daniel Soulier’s opera La veuve et le Grillon for the ensemble La Péniche Opéra, Reinhard Keiser’s opera Croesus for Staatsoper Berlin (conductor: René Jacobs) and Landi’s opera Sant'Alessio in collaboration with the stage director Benjamin Lazar and the conductor William Christie for Les Arts Florissants. In the 2008/09 season she is preparing Händel’s opera Rinaldo for the National Theatre in Prague, which in the following season will be staged in a co-production with the opera theatres in Rennes, Caen and Luxembourg, and Lully’s opera Amadis under the conductor Olivier Schneebeli. Update: February 2009