An exciting choreographic emergence built day after day. A collective energy radiated through Forrest Place, carrying both participants and spectators with it. French choreographer Boris Charmatz invited 150 amateurs into a six-day workshop exploring circular movements from traditional and contemporary dance.
Together with a dozen professional dancers from Europe and Australia, Boris Charmatz transmitted a collection of circle dances within the expanse of Forrest Place. CERCLES explored the circle as a cocoon, as a raging crowd or a wall of bodies: agile, determined.
Propelled by a soundtrack by Meute, a Hamburg-based techno brass band who reinterpret electronic music classics in their own unique way, this communal movement experience extended our perception of what dance can be.
First realised at Festival d’Avignon in 2024, the project was then presented in Wuppertal the same year and at Grand Palais in Paris in July 2025. In Perth, it was presented as an Australian exclusive as part of the free Perth Moves program.
Credits
Concept: Boris Charmatz
Choreographic assistant: Magali Caillet Gajan
With Alice Cummins, Annmarie Clifton-James, Guilhem Chatir, Laura Bachman, Laura Boynes, Linton Elethios, Luther Wilson, Matthew Morris, Régis Badel, Tara Gower, Tatiana Julien and Zendra Giraudo and a group of 150 amateurs.
Choreographic materials: Boris Charmatz, Étude révolutionnaire by Isodora Duncan and dances suggested by the professional dancers
Deputy Director: Hélène Joly
Production, development of projects: Lucas Chardon, Martina Hochmuth, Briac Geffrault, Lola Serre
Produced by: STRUT Dance, Perth Festival and Terrain
The presentation of CERCLES is proudly supported by WAAPA
Coproduction: Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch, Pina Bausch Zentrum, Kunststiftung NRW, Festival d’Avignon
Created on June 29, 2024 Festival d’Avignon, in the framework of the invitation of Boris Charmatz as « artiste complice » of the Festival
Terrain is supported by Ministère de la Culture – DRAC Hauts-de-France and Région Hauts-de-France
Gallery
Perth Moves was presented by STRUT Dance with Perth Festival and assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia – its arts funding and advisory body, the WA Government, Feilman Foundation, Ungar Family Foundation and STRUT Movers who are our generous and supportive donors.
