1 .

The company

Based at Mulhouse, the OnR Ballet is a company of 32 dancers from around the world, all academically trained and selected for their stylistic versatility. Directed by Bruno Bouché since 2017, the company has earned singular international acclaim, built up over 50 years of collaboration with world-leading classic and contemporary choreographers. It has also forged strong ties with local audiences across the region.

A CCN at the opera
The OnR Ballet was recognized as a Centre chorégraphique national (CCN) in 1985 and remains an exception as the only one attached to an opera house. Its unique identity has shaped this center of excellence, which has a mission not just to revisit classical pieces but also to actively produce new works under both seasoned choreographers and emerging talents. The Ballet's repertoire is one of the most diverse in France, ranging from baroque through to reinterpreted classics and contemporary pieces. With a program specifically designed to be boundary-pushing yet accessible to all, the Ballet helps promote dance culture among its ever-growing audiences, complemented by school matinées and educational sessions.

Local cultural outreach
Under the artistic direction of Bruno Bouché, the CCN is expanding its remit. The Accueil Studio initiative set up by Pasquale Nocera enables us to coopt Grand Est institutions to support independent dance companies via joint residencies. Stage director Frédérique Lombart’s appointment as Associate Artist will promote innovative cultural outreach programs across the region, ensuring ballet remains a meaningful art form in keeping with the times.

A European ballet for the 21st century
The OnR Ballet has also broadened its range. Located at the crossroads of Europe, the company delights in exploring fresh works and subjects that resonate with today's audiences. The program of new forms and pieces devised by young dancers-choreographers continues to push the boundaries of dance to foster connections between performers and choreographers, artists and spectators. It strikes a balance between honoring tradition and taking risks, revisiting classics and championing modern creativity.


Female dancers

Male dancers
2 .

Bruno Bouché

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Artistic Director

Bruno Bouché has been director of the Ballet de l'Opéra national du Rhin since 2017. He joined the Corps de Ballet de l'Opéra national de Paris in 1996, where he was appointed Sujet in 2002. He danced under the direction of Brigitte Lefèvre until 2014. In 1999 he became artistic director of Incidence Chorégraphique, which produces choreographic creations for the dancers of the Ballet of the Opéra de Paris, then took over the artistic direction of the Festival Les Synodales in Sens, and for the dance season at the municipal theatre and the contemporary choreographic competition for young dance companies in 2013. He has signed his own choreographies since 2003, which he has presented regularly on the stage of the Palais Garnier, and throughout the world. He created, for the Opéra national du Rhin: Fireflies (2018), 40D (2019), Wings of Desire (2021), They Shoot Horses Don't They? (2023) with Clément Hervieu-Léger and Daniel San Pedro and Pour le reste (2024). Renewed for a second term, Bruno Bouché is developing several approaches to encourage and promote the emergence of a European Ballet in the 21st century.

3 .

Timeline of the OnR Ballet

1972

Foundation of the Opéra du Rhin as a syndicat intercommunal by the cities of Strasbourg, Mulhouse and Colmar. The ballet company of the Opera is based in Strasbourg and is called Ballet du Rhin. Jean Babilée is the first artistic director.

1974

The company moves into its venue in Mulhouse. Peter Van Dyk is appointed director. He is followed by Jean Sarelli (1978), Jean-Paul Gravier (1990), Bertrand d'At (1997), Ivan Cavallari (2013), and now Bruno Bouché.

1985

The Ballet du Rhin receives the status of Centre chorégraphique national (CCN). At this time, it's the only working CCN that's part of an opera.

1998

The Opéra du Rhin earns the title of Opéra national, and the Ballet du Rhin becomes the Ballet de l'Opéra national du Rhin.

4 .

The CCN

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National Choregraphy Center

The French Ministry of Culture awards the title of Centre chorégraphique national (CCN) to institutions directed by choreographic artists of particular merit, whose spirit and originality represent the creative diversity on the contemporary French stage. The 19 CCN focus mostly on choreographic work, but also on building repertoire, spreading productions, sharing resources, and choreographic training and development. They are funded by the central and regional governments to promote regional development and dance. Artists receive structural support and a dedicated workplace. The Ballet of the Opéra national du Rhin became a CCN in 1985 and remains an exception, as it's the only CCN that is also part of an opera. The official policy is to promote both grand repertoire and neo-classical ballet, while hosting contemporary companies to foster professional exchange. Each CCN follows a policy of creation and promotion, both in its own region and abroad, maintenance of a particular repertoire, and development of innovative dance projects.

Accueil Studio: a mission to share

Since 1998, the Department of Music and Dance of the Ministry of Culture, has given the CCNs the task of assisting independent companies through a programme called Accueil Studio. The aim is to provide the companies selected with the means afforded professional productions through material and/or financial support (studios, backing through co-production etc.), foster contacts and exchanges and guide the emergence of innovative artistic projects. In this respect, the CCNs act as resource centres for choreography in France. A financial envelope is allocated to each CCN to help bring the projects of the selected companies and choreographers to fruition.

The Ballet of the Opéra national du Rhin has been committed to this policy since 2001. It has supported the work of choreographers from Alsace, and indeed the whole of France. The aim is, above all, to give projects substance, foster encounters, forge partnerships and enable dance to flourish throughout France.


Associate artist

Essayist, fiction writer and journalist Daniel Condrod is artiste associé at the CCN Ballet of the Opéra national du Rhin from 2018-2020. His tasks include arranging the Atelier, the alternative space where the company's identity is forged, managing research and reflection workshops with the artists, and rethinking the role of ballet in the region. For the 2018/19 season, he is planning the young audience event "Workshop of the Brothers Grimm" for which the dancers are creating pieces based on the fairytale world of these two writers.


Welcome to the studio!

The project "Accueil Studio" (Welcome to the studio) was set up by the French Ministry of Culture in 1998 to allow Centres choréographiques nationaux (CCN) to host independent artists and share resources. The project allows artists to work in a professional environment while promoting regional dance culture. A CCN may simply open its studio to artists, or offer wider assistance such as co-productions and promotional support. Each CCN has a budget for these projects with selected companies or choreographers. The Ballet of the Opéra national du Rhin has been part of this project since 2001. We have supported the work of choreographers from Alsace and all over France. Our goals are to get projects started, create meeting places, build partnerships, and thereby promote dance in our region.


In 2018-2019, The CCN Ballet of the OnR is supporting :
  • Harris Gkekas
  • Cie Strates (via le réseau Grand Luxe)
  • Caroline Allaire – Cie KHZ
  • Bruno Benne – Cie Beaux-Champs
  • Olga Mesa & Francisco Ruiz De Infante – Cie Hors Champs
  • Gilles Baron – Association Origami Cie Gilles Baron
  • Vania Vaneau – Cie Arrangement provisoire
  • Mathieu Desseigne, Sylvain Bouillet & Lucien Reynès – Cie Naïf Production
  • Raphaël Cottin – Cie la Poétique des Signes
  • Catherine Diverrès – Association d’Octobre Cie Catherine Diverrès
  • Ezio Schiavulli – Cie EZ3 (via le réseau Grand Luxe)
  • Vidal Bini – Cie KHZ (via le réseau Grand Luxe)
  • Marino Vanna – Cie Marino Vanna
  • Sarah Crépin & Etienne Cuppens – Cie La BaZooKa
  • Laurent Goldring – Cie Goldring-Productions
  • Gilles Schamber – Cie Gilschamber Asso Tanz
  • Edouard Hue – Beaver Dam Company
  • Etienne Rochefort – Cie 1 des Si
  • Claire Durand-Drouhin – Cie Traction
  • Baptiste Hilbert & Catarina Calçada Barbosa – Cie Awa As We Are

Our partners for the Accueil Studio program :
  • ADIAM67 – Strasbourg
  • Agence Culturel d’Alsace – Sélestat
  • Bataville Fabrique Autonome des Acteurs - Moussey
  • CCN Ballet de Lorraine – Nancy
  • Centre Europe – Colmar
  • Espace 110 – Illzach
  • Espace Athic – Obernai
  • Espace Tival, CREA – Kingersheim
  • La Filature Scène nationale – Mulhouse
  • MAC Relais Culturel – Bischwiller
  • Le Manège Scène nationale - Reims
  • Pôle Sud CDCN – Strasbourg
  • Théâtre La Coupole – Saint-Louis
  • Théâtre du Marché aux grains – Bouxwiller
  • Théâtre Le Triangle – Huningue
  • Tréteaux de Haute Alsace - Mulhouse
  • TJP CDN – Strasbourg
  • Viadanse CCN de Franche-Comté – Belfort

Contact

+33 (0)3 89 45 94 10 • ballet@onr.fr


Regular dance training

The company's dance class is every Monday. Please apply in advance. Admission requirements:
At least 18 years old
Proof of professional experience
Please attach your CV and photos to your application. The artistic director may choose not readmit new candidates after the first period.

Information / registration

Only by e-mail • Pasquale Nocera • pnocera@onr.fr

5 .

Auditions

Applications should be sent by e-mail to ballet@onr.fr.

Please send us :
. CV
. 3 or 4 photos
. a contemporary video
. a classic video on pointe
Applications for the '24'25 season will not be considered until March 2024.