L' Espace Bernhard Glandier
The „Bernard Glandier“ Center : AN EXPERIMENT

A modern center for the body, for creation, for innovation and contemporary thought.

Make dance and art be a carrier of irrigation, of exchange and of confrontation : Bring artistic works and the artists together with the population of the city and of the district. Take these steps within a permanent dialogue. Reside, resound, resist and be present in a modern center for everyone.

Bernard Glandier
Bernard Glandier was a dancer, choreographer and teacher who worked with important figures of contemporary dance such as Susan Buirge, Catherine Diverres or Bernardo Montet. He was deeply marked by Dominique Bagouet’s works, and danced in his company from 1982 to 1993. He created his first own dance works within the Centre National Chorégraphique directed by Dominique Bagouet. Following the death of the artist in 1992, Bernard Glandier became the cofounder of the “Carnets Bagouet”, an association created in order to safeguard and transmit an outstanding choreographic heritage in contemporary dance history.
As the director of the educational department in the Professional Insertion Group of the Bagouet Company, he carried on a teaching method which was ardently defended by the choreographer.
Bernard Glandier founded his own company “Alentours” in 1995 (it became based in Alès in 1997) and created “Faits et Gestes” (1997), “Autre Monde” (1998) and “Quelques Tour de Danse” (2000) among other pieces.

History of the company
1987 : Founding of the „Compagnie Didier Théron“.
1993 : Following a deliberation of the city council, the city of Montpellier commits the company to use a studio at the social and leisure center „Maison pour Tous Léo Lagrange“. Here, Didier Théron develops a creative center : A laboratory-studio where international artists can experiment and exchange ideas.
At the same time, the company tours with choreographic projects in France and abroad. It also works on projects and experiments in situ, causing people to experience the art of dance, within a close co-operation with the school world, amateurs and professionals in Montpellier and the Languedoc-Roussillon region, open to people from every horizon (“Paillade in 1st line” ; 2000 - 2001 - 2002 „Regards sur la Danse“; “Pièces Montrées” Festival off 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004).

2004 : The laboratory-studio officially becomes a cultural center of the city of Montpellier. Inaugurated on February 5th, 2004, it is named „Espace Bernard Glandier“. On the initiative of the city of Montpellier, this event is presided by Mr. André Vezhinet, President of the Hérault County Council, advised by representatives of the Ministry for the Arts and Culture (DRAC LR), the region Languedoc-Roussillon and the state (Prefecture of the Hérault). This is an important moment : The inauguration corresponds to the structuring and the officialization of Didier Théron’s project for this center.
Michèle Murray and Maya Brosch are associated artists at the „Espace Bernard Glandier“ and are implicated in the artistic management of the center (www.ciemichelemurray.org).
Guest artists are welcomed to the „ Espace Bernard Glandier“ : Kosei Sakamoto and Yuko Mori (Monochrome Circus - Japan - 2004) ; Rosalind Crisp (Australia - 2004/5) ; Rita Quaglia and Luis Ayet (2006) ; Keith Thompson (USA - 2007).

Location
Located at the border of the city of Montpellier, this center benefits from a unique geopolitical location : It is in direct contact with the population of the agglomeration of Montpellier and of the Hérault Council, in a district surrounded by 25 000 inhabitants, the district „La Mosson“ (former „La Paillade“), with transport facilities such as trams or the ring roads and bypasses of the Montpellier conurbation.

The „Compagnie Didier Théron - Espace Bernard Glandier“ is one of the rare centers of artistic creation existing in this sector, complementing and co-operating closely with other cultural centers such as the media library Jean-Jacques Rousseau and the Theater Jean Vilar.

Furthermore, the „Espace Bernard Glandier“ is located within the „Maison pour Tous Léo Lagrange“, et next to the „Club du Troisième Age“ (a center for the elderly), the „Restos du Coeur“ (charity food distribution centers), the „Halles de la Paillade“ (market) and the „Parc de Verdure Baroncelli“.

The Center
The „Espace Bernard Glandier“ has now two studios : one studio-theater of 275 square meters and one dance studio of 50 square meters, as well as adjoining administrative offices. A close co-operation and permanent agreements with the management of the „Maison pour Tous Léo Lagrange“ give access to additional space, if necessary.

The „Espace Bernard Glandier“ is dedicated to creating, programming and transmitting choreographic works, in co-operation with the associated artists Michèle Murray and Maya Brosch, co-founders of the project. Furthermore, it regularly invites international artists who bring new views on dance and on the body, with different techniques or different cultures, within a district characterized by its multi-culturalism.
Exchanges with associated artists, invited or in residence, are based on artistic affinities and mutual interests, on the one hand permitting each artist to progress within his artistic work and to profit from other techniques and aesthetic ideas, on the other hand to innovate together within meetings and exchanges with the public.

Training and introductory classes
For professional dancers : workshops, master classes with dancers, choreographers, renowned and well-known teachers.

For adult amateurs : regular introductory workshops to different physical techniques, regular contemporary dance classes in co-operation with the „Maison pour Tous Léo Lagrange“, Monday and Wednesday evenings.

For adolescents and young adults : Workshops mixing contemporary dance and hip-hop: a co-operation with Djamel Amzert (MCR Danse Compagnie) and Patrice Usseglio (Cie Didier Théron) during school vacation.

For children aged 6-12 years : Introductory workshops to contemporary dance during school vacation called „Games Experiments Movements“, directed by Maya Brosch and Brigitte Gallissian.

The residence
Residencies for dance companies : According to the availability of the studios, companies researching and working on the body in dance are welcomed to reside for a varied course of time. The conditions and the duration are defined during the season.
Performances / demonstration - lectures / public repetitions : pieces in creation, extracts of the repertoire of the „Compagnie Didier Théron“, of the „Compagnie Michèle Murray“, of guest artists, of companies in residence and other companies, are regularly presented at the „Bernard Glandier“ center. In the future, the company intends to organize a more regular program.