COMPANY BIOGRAPHY - RIOULT · If By Chance is set to Jacques Loussier’s jazz interpretation of Mozart’s Concerto No.23, a classic of the keyboard

246 W 38TH ST 4TH FL. NY NY 10018 TEL: 212 398 5901 FAX: 212 398 5902 WWW.PRDANCE.ORG

For domestic booking contact: [email protected]

COMPANY BIOGRAPHY RIOULT was founded in 1994 and fast became an established name in modern dance with a reputation for

creating and presenting the sensual, articulate, and exquisitely musical works of Pascal Rioult. Born into the

American modern dance tradition, RIOULT is creating its own legacy of theatrically produced, contemporary

dance that speaks to the mind as well as the heart of the global community. The company of ten dancers is

based in New York City and presents an annual New York season, tours nationally and internationally and

reaches more than 20,000 audience members each year.

RIOULT has been invited to perform in

theatres and festivals throughout North

America: New York City Center Fall for

Dance, Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors,

American Dance Festival in Raleigh

NC, the Tamaulipas Festival, Mexico,

the Annenberg Center in Philadelphia,

PA, Le Grand Théâtre De Québec,

Canada, the Raymond F. Kravis Center

for the Performing Arts in West Palm

Beach, FL, and Zellerbach Hall in

Berkeley, CA, to name a few. An extensive international touring schedule has brought the company to the

Bermuda Festival, Cannes International Festival, Danse à Aix, Festival du Val du Marne, the Temps le Danse

Festival, the Paris Opera Bastille, and La Maison de la Danse in France, stages in Italy, Switzerland, Germany,

Belgium and numerous other countries, cities and towns throughout the world.

RIOULT prides itself on its commitment to its dancers. Among the primary goals of the organization is to

provide steady employment, healthcare, and foster the artistic development of its performers by offering

training classes, teaching opportunities, challenging repertory and extended rehearsal and performance

schedules.

Education and community outreach have been integral to RIOULT since its inception. RIOULT’s arts-in-

education program, DanceREACH, offers an interactive approach to introducing students to the world of

modern dance. It has impacted thousands of students and community members in New York City and around

the world. Ongoing relationships with schools in New York City and the metropolitan area allow RIOULT to

inspire new generations of dancers and audiences.

PASCAL RIOULT (Artistic Director / Choreographer)

Former track and field star in France, Mr. Rioult came to the United States

on a fellowship from the French Ministry of Culture to study modern dance

in 1981. After performing with the companies of May O'Donnell and Paul

Sanasardo he was invited to join the Martha Graham Dance Company. As a

principal dancer, he interpreted many of the most prestigious roles in the

Graham repertory and in 1990 Ms. Graham created the central role (Death

Figure) in her ballet The Eye of the Goddess for Mr. Rioult. He performed

opposite Mikhail Baryshnikov and Joyce Herring in El Penitente and was

featured in two television specials: Martha Graham in Japan and Five

Dances by Martha Graham at the Paris Opera.

Since starting his own company in 1994, Mr. Rioult has dedicated his energies to forging and perfecting a

choreographic style of his own, nurturing a robust ensemble of dancers, and growing his company, RIOULT.

Of his work, Black Diamond, Anna Kisselgoff of the New York Times wrote, “…he has met the challenge of

comparison with George Balanchine.” Alain Cigolotti writes in Le Temps, France, “Pascal Rioult, before

all, is one of the leaders of ‘neo-modern dance.’ His work is rooted in a tradition but open to the future. His

style blends an acute sense of classical structure with a profound musical sensibility.” Backstage referred to

him as “One of the most adept and courageous choreographers in mainstream modern dance today.”

Mr. Rioult’s works have been commissioned by the American Dance Festival, Cal Arts (Zellerbach Hall in

Berkeley, CA) the Ballet du Nord in Roubaix, France, the Geneva Ballet, Switzerland, The Orchestra of St.

Luke’s, the Harriet and Gordon Greenfield Foundation, the Grand Marnier Foundation, the Théâtre de Saint

Quentin en Yvelines, France, Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA among others.

Mr. Rioult has been awarded grants from the New York State Council on the Arts, the Rockefeller Brothers

Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, the Shubert Foundation, the Geoffrey C. Hughes Foundation,

the Harkness Foundation, the Florence Gould Foundation, the Department of Cultural Affairs, Shana

Alexander Foundation, Lila Acheson Wallace Foundation, and numerous others. He is a two-time recipient of

the Choo-San Goh Award for Choreography.

246 W 38TH ST 4TH FL. NY NY 10018 • TEL: 212 398 5901 • FAX: 212 398 5902 • WWW.PRDANCE.ORG


“…was the smartest evening so far in the already stellar

Dance Celebration season at the Annenberg Center.”

Merilyn Jackson, The Philadelphia Inquirer

THE RAVEL PROJECT

THE RAVEL PROJECT

An evening of dance set to the lush scores of Maurice Ravel. “Through [Rioult’s] sophisticated re-imagining of the

music, [his] entire artistic vision clearly is one that boldly asks questions and challenges answers.”

Home Front, “Le Tombeau de Couperin” represents the lost innocence of uprooted soldiers to whom Ravel dedi-

cated the five movements of his musical score. Jennifer Dunning of The New York Times described it as a "joyous

hymn to order" and praised the choreographer as a "natural storyteller who is increasingly, and distinctively, merg-

ing buried narratives with pure dance." Running time: 18 minutes.

Wien, “La Valse” depicts European society between two world wars whose apparent civility – as illustrated by the

Viennese waltz – fails to conceal the internal whirlwind, spiraling outward to social disintegration. Backstage re-

marked "Rioult takes the familiar score of „La Valse‟ and stretches the imagination to unthought-of movement re-

gions, thus creating a spine chilling work of choreography. Rarely does one need to see a piece of work again.

„Wien‟ demands another look." This startlingly and thought-provoking work has been captivating audiences since

its premiere. Running time: 13 minutes.

Prelude to Night, is a triptych danced to three short Ravel orchestral works, “Alborada del Gracioso,” “Prélude à la

nuit” and “Feria” from “Rapsodie Espagnole.” The piece is linked by the physical presence of the central female

character who journeys through time and space – that of imagination, dream and nightmares. Prelude to Night is a

transitory passage from one state to another. Running time: 28 minutes.

Bolero, is a bold and unexpected interpretation of the famous musical score. A perennial sensation with audiences

and critics alike, this electric piece was featured in the 2005 City Center Fall for Dance Festival. Its perpetual mo-

tion and ever-changing patterns follow the composer’s lead in building to its inevitable climax. The unrelenting

crescendo of energy creates a riveting tour de force that speaks to the essence of the music. Allan Ulrich of

the San Francisco Chronicle declared that “Rioult…knows that „Bolero‟ is actually a single, 16-minute cres-

cendo that looks back on the Constructivist era…it is that cold mechanistic, asexual quality that this new

„Bolero‟ captures so rivetingly.” Running time: 16 minutes.

246 W 38TH ST 4TH FL. NY NY 10018 · TEL: 212 398 5901 · FAX: 212 398 5902 · WWW.PRDANCE.ORG


THE STRAVINSKY PROGRAM

“In Black Diamond he has met the challenge of comparison with

George Balanchine‟s Duo Concertant.”

Anna Kisselgoff, The New York Times



THE STRAVINSKY PROGRAM

Rioult’s captivating lineup of Stravinsky-set works illustrates not only his love for this master composer, but also his

deep understanding of structure and diversity of the music that is so poignantly expressed through dance. Choose

three of the four ballets below to create your program.

Les Noces, revisiting the concept of the wedding, is a sexually charged deconstruction of the marriage ritual, explor-

ing the primal instincts behind this traditional rite of passage. Provocative movement and unabashed energy permeate

strong structural composition. Described in Backstage as “A ravishing, danced deconstruction of sexual discovery,”

this wedding will leave you breathless. Running time: 25 minutes.

Black Diamond, “Duo Concertant” is a visually and technically stunning duet for two women elevated on platforms

halfway between the earth and the sky. This dance translates the poetic qualities of a black diamond into movement:

strength, beauty, purity and mystery – the same essential qualities of the dancer’s body. Black Diamond raises the

female dancer to the status of semi-goddess and poetic muse. Anna Kisselgoff of The New York Times stated “In

Black Diamond [Rioult] has met the challenge of comparison with George Balanchine‟s 1972 Duo Concertant.’”

Running time: 13 minutes.

Firebird, is an innovative treatment of the mythic story of good versus evil; a community of lost souls brought back to

humanity through the magical intervention of a small child – the symbolic phoenix of hope and rebirth. Breathtaking

sets and lighting enhance masterful choreography to create an unforgettable theatrical experience. This Firebird is

emotionally evocative and intellectually stimulating; it “turns a potential cliché into essential truth.” (The New York

Times, 2004) Running time: 23 minutes.

In Symphony of Psalms, Rioult blends dramatic images and powerful movement into a profound, uplifting work. His

treatment of Stravinsky’s timeless score provokes intense emotion without becoming sentimental and reflects the

complex spiritual tone of the music, representing a breakthrough in Rioult’s choreographic maturity. “His gorgeous

moments include a spectacular crossing sequence, culminating in the entire company suspended in a simultaneous

leap, and a delightful, recurring image of the group swaying like lightly struck bells." (The New York Sun, 2007)

Running time: 22 minutes.

MIXED REPERTORY PROGRAM

“Pascal Rioult, before all, is one of the leaders of ‘Neo-Modern

dance.’ His work is rooted in a tradition but open to the future. His

style blends an acute sense of classical structure with a profound

musical sensibility.”

Alain Cigolotti, Le Temps, France

MIXED REPERTORY PROGRAM

Create a program to suit your audience using selections from The Ravel Project and The Stravinsky Program, as

well as selected repertoire described below.

La Vie En Rose, is a collection of solos, duets, trios, and group dances set in a café atmosphere to a variety of clas-

sic Edith Piaf songs. Dancers assume casual, life-like attitudes between the pieces, but as they begin to move their

inner world is revealed, a world that is not visible on the outside, but speaks about their secret hopes, dreams and

fantasies. They tell stories that would not be spoken or shown in public, but are usually only played out behind

closed doors. “Rioult tackled partnering choreography with ease…in the duet „Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien,‟ some

visible magic was created.” (Phyllis Goldman, Backstage) Running time can range from: 15 – 30 minutes.

If By Chance is set to Jacques Loussier’s jazz interpretation of Mozart’s Concerto No.23, a classic of the keyboard

repertory overlaid with jazz rhythms and improvisation. Rioult’s choreography explores the possibilities of im-

provisation within a modern dance composition that is sensual, refreshing and features stunning partnering.

“Rioult allowed his alternately sensual and delightful choreography to play within the wide frame of modern

dance…the dancers…created a sensual energy, with mixed – and same-gender partnering. Typical of Rioult, this

untraditional coupling adds refreshing spice to the blend.” (Emily Macel, Dance Magazine) Running time: 27 min-

utes.

Views of the Fleeting World is a meditative piece in which Pascal integrates the musical form of the fugue (fugere:

to flee, to run away from), the scenic design (slowly moving projections on the backdrop), fugal and contrapuntal

choreographic elements, to make a complete theatrical concept. The woodcut prints of the Japanese master Hiroshige,

(a series that was titled Views of the Fleeting World) influenced the costumes, color palette and content. The work

brings together works from different eras and hemispheres, and Pascal's own forward-looking vision to explore their

common truths. The dance is composed of nine short sections: Orchard, Gathering Storm, Wild Horses, Dusk, Rain,

Night Ride, Summer Wind, Moonlight, and Flowing River. Running time: 25 minutes.



246 W 38TH ST 4TH FL. NY NY 10018 TEL: 212 398 5901 FAX: 212 398 5902 WWW.PRDANCE.ORG


LICENSING RIOULT WORKS Dance companies, Colleges and Conservatories have performed RIOULT’s choreography throughout the US

and abroad. Several of the company’s renowned pieces are available for performing and training experience.

Prospective licensors should contact RIOULT to discuss the pieces available to assess suitability for the

particular licensor– their style, group size, training, timing and other factors that would influence the match of

repertory to their group. Works are available for large groups as well as for smaller groups and solo excerpts,

short and longer pieces. Videotape of excerpts and additional information on specific works is available.

Technique classes are often provided in conjunction with the staging to enhance and inspire the dancers’

knowledge of work and movement. RIOULT’s reconstructors include experienced company members and

rehearsal directors who share their personal experiences learning and performing the piece. Their extensive

knowledge of the pieces, as well as their teaching experience, enables them to creatively adapt the work to the

particular dancers they are working with.

Music, lighting and costume design are provided, but

RIOULT retains artistic authority of the production.

The total cost of a restaging varies by the type of institution

licensing. Fees, in addition to a standard licensing fee, depend

on the residency’s rehearsal and master class schedule. The

licensee is responsible for the travel, per diem, and housing

expenses of the reconstructor as well as any production

expenses.

Bolero, Wien, If By Chance, and Piaf Suite have become

favorites in the licensing and teaching community. These

pieces have been set on Case Western Reserve University,

Marymount Manhattan College, Grand Valley State

University, State School for Dance Greece, and The Ailey

School among others. Please contact RIOULT for additional

information.

“Perhaps the most adept and courageous choreographer in mainstream modern dance today...”

Lisa Jo Sagolla, Backstage

“This outstanding group should be brought back soon. Rioult’s choreography should be experienced often as

part of a healthy dance diet.”

Mark Kanny, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

“Rioult’s entire artistic vision is one that boldly asks questions and challenges answers.”

Mark Lynch, Palm Beach Daily News

“Rioult’s choreography was disciplined and ingenious…”

Mae G. Banner, Metroland, Albany

“…a little gem of purity and perfection.”

Nicole Dupain on Strictly Stravinsky, La Tribune, France

“Pascal Rioult has moved himself into primetime. His

movement vocabulary is a flawless melding of ballet and

modern with deep and fulfilling emotional overtones.”

Phyllis Goldman, Backstage

“The increasing acclaim he has attracted on national tours

has much to do with his assertive individuality. In Black

Diamond he has met the challenge of comparison with

George Balanchine’s Duo Concertant.”

Anna Kisselgoff, The New York Times

“Rioult is an original, he has ideas of his own…his

dances have guts but they also have heart…of the new

dance companies, his is way out front.”

Francis Mason, WQXR

“The precision and the speed, to which we are witness, are

the results of a troupe in perfect harmony.”

Marisa Luisa Buzzi, Danza & Danza, Italy

“Pascal Rioult, before all, is one of the leaders of ‘Neo-Modern dance.’ His work is rooted in a tradition but

open to the future. His style blends an acute sense of classical structure with a profound musical sensibility.”

Alain Cigolotti, Le Temps, France

“His gorgeous moments include a spectacular crossing sequence, culminating in the entire company suspended

in a simultaneous leap, and a delightful, recurring image of the group swaying like lightly struck bells."

Helen Shaw on Symphony of Psalms, The New York Sun

PRESS QUOTES



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COMPANY BIOGRAPHY - RIOULT · If By Chance is set to Jacques Loussier’s jazz interpretation of Mozart’s Concerto No.23, a classic of the keyboard