I am in the middle of editing Escalier vers le troisième étage, cutting movements, creating non-linear timelines of multiple scenes. It’s a very different kind of choreographic process than the one in rehearsal and whilst filming on site. A rather solitary one!

It’s a colossal task as there is a very large amount of film footage with so many precious memories attached. Over 32 people are featured on film, amongst them professional performers as well as many local participants from the very young to the very mature. Their various life experiences and physical interpretations enrich the movement vocabulary, content and concepts of the films in many different ways.

I look forward to sharing the works in progress with the participants later this spring to get their feedback!

Expérience 49 and I are proud to announce that the project Venu et Parti will be one of the example projects presented in the « Ins’temps culture EAC » conference organised by the Service Culture Departement Maine et Loire in March 2026. The grants of the EAC (l’éducation artistique et culturelle) are essential for cultural democratisation and equal opportunities.

Two participants from Venu et Parti (above in action during rehearsals) have been invited to give their witness account and experiences of the project from a participant’s point of view. We thank them for taking part in this special event!

All the best for 2026!

I took this snapshot of a snow-woman on an afternoon walk through the Pegnitzauen in Nürnberg, Germany. Thanks to the unknown creator(s) of this icy woman – I much enjoyed coming across her on this very cold, but sunny day!

The building, that the city of Baugé has temporarily given me permission to work in, never seizes to surprise and inspire me.

The photo above captures a moment of rehearsals on the first floor with two young participants that I first met during a series of school’s workshops linked to my last work « Venu et Parti ». Like several of their fellow students they decided to join me on this new adventure and take part in my film projects of 2025, « Encadré » et « Escalier vers le troisième étage ».

I keep filming as much as I can before the building gets too cold to work in. After all there is no heating or electricity, and bright days are becoming sparser…

Photo credit: Maresa von Stockert

                              

My time is taken by preparations, rehearsals and filming sessions for « Encadré » and « Escalier vers le troisième étage » thus not so many posts recently despite a lot happening!

It’s a great joy to be working with a diverse group of participants of all ages, this time also including young people between the ages of 6 to 18.

Above a photo glimpse into one of the film sessions.

Photo credit: Maresa von Stockert

                              

Organised by Expérience 49, I am currently working on two community engagement projects.

They include 8 sessions with 15 residents of the care home Anne de la Girouardière as well as 24 sessions with two schools (children between the ages of 6 and 11) in the commune of Baugé en Anjou. The programmes take place between January and July 2025.

Both projects explore artistic ideas and working processes used in the creation of my latest works Come and Gone and In the light of autumn.

It is a very enriching and inspiring process to work with young and older people as well as people with physical and/ or mental disabilities on the two projects.

A big thank you to the local participants of my current works who have decided to join the workshops in the residential care homes, as well as Expérience 49’s community engagement assistant Melissa Favreau who is supporting the programmes.

Photo credit: Maresa von Stockert

                                                                                                       

Expérience 49 invites you to

a work in progress sharing of Maresa von Stockert’s current works Come and Gone and In the light of autumn.

The sharing will include projections of short film excerpts, a presentation by Expérience 49’s artistic director, Maresa von Stockert, and a Q&A session with the featured artists and participants.

Location, date and time:
29th March 2025 at 19h
In the Salle de Fêtes de Vaulandry
23 rue Principale, Vaulandry, 49150 Baugé-en-Anjou.

We look forward to seeing you there!

  Photo credit: Maresa von Stockert

                                                                                                                                    

I am happy to announce that the photo exhibition of my past stage as well as site-specific and outdoor works can now be seen locally in Baugé in two residential care homes in the commune.

You can see the exhibitions in the reception areas at the E.H.P.A.D Anne de Melun, 11 rue du Dr Zamenhof, 49150 Baugé, and the E.H.P.A.D Anne de la Girouardière, 5 rue de la Girouardière, 49150 Baugé, from January until April 2025.

Linked to Expérience 49’s ongoing work with the local community, the photo exhibitions are leading up to two workshop programmes this winter and spring. Details are coming up in my next post.

Photo credit: David Morris

 

The creation of my current works, Come and Gone and In the light of autumn, is in full flow.

These site-specific projects combine contemporary dance, film and visual art.

Both works are very much inspired by their location – an abandoned multi-storey, listed building that was last a retirement home.

Come and Gone reflects on the the cycle of life, the history of the building and the ephemerality of memories. The work features an intergenerational group of performers and local participants in poignant play with one another and what they find on site, integrating architectural features, abandoned environments and materials.

In the light of autumn is an audiovisual work linked to Come and Gone as it features the same building. Yet it presents the building from another angle as it focuses on the change of natural light that floods its rooms and captures those inside between September and December.

Photo credit: Maresa von Stockert

                              

I am looking forward to a very busy summer rehearsing and filming Venu et Parti bringing together local participants alongside professional dancers.  More news will follow in September/ October !

Above a glimpse into first rehearsals for Venu et Parti.