Twenty years already since Pierre Rigal launched into choreography, with a particularity and a handicap: not belonging to the small world of French contemporary dance which excels in the private world.

What had to happen happened: a reputation as an outsider, not to say amateur, proclaimed by the experts in knowing how to dance well, hostile to the spoilsport: that is to say, those who are not from the inner circle . Obviously, they were wrong: Dernier Minute, his troupe, proves it every week with the loud applause of the public and his numerous tours. With two highlights: Érection, created in 2003 in Toulouse and Press, created in 2008 in London.

The first solo tells the story of a man, from his birth to his death, and the second that of a human stuck between four walls. These two brilliant pieces deserve to be performed by troupes around the world, they are so original. And then there was the shock of Avignon in 2013: Bataille, with the excellent actor and dancer Pierre Cartonnet.

2024 will be marked by multiple revivals of these ballets, and by three major events: from May 9 to 12, in Marseille, for the arrival of the Olympic flame. A former 400 meter runner, Rigal will create Ballet Jogging for 250 runners for the occasion. He will continue, on June 23, in Seine-Saint-Denis with a parade from Bobigny to Pantin, On ne va pas se parade, designed with young local dancers and musicians. Finally, he will be in Paris, from October 11 to 13, as part of the beautiful “Monuments in Movements” series, with Ronde. Eight performers will perform in the Pantheon to illustrate this place.