Tell us about your dance journey
Stéphen Delattre, born in France, started did his professional dance formation at the "Ecole Nationale Supèrieure de Dnase de Marseille - Roland Petit" from the age of 11 till 17. After his diploma, he has extended his dance carrier in France at the age of 18 with the "Jeune Ballet International de Cannes", before to continue working in Germany.After more than 15 years of carrier as Soloist Dancer in 6 different national theatres, Stéphen Delattre is now since 13 years, the Resident Choreographer and Artistic Director of the "Delattre Dance Company" (DDC). Since now 3 years, he also created his junior company "Evolution Dance Platform". As one of the youngest director in the dance world the past years, he has delivered successful work to his resident theatres in Mainz/ Frankfurt and Detmold (Germany).
How did you create the Delattre Dance Company?
An inventive and passionate creator, French choreographer Stéphen Delattre draws on the synergy of classical and contemporary dance vocabularies to sculpt a distinctive and innovative choreographic language that is physically dynamic and emotionally authentic.In 2012, Mr Delattre founded his ensemble with his business partner Martin Opelt, the "Delattre Dance Company", which celebrated its tenth anniversary with a successful gala on the main stage of the Mainz State Theatre in 2022. The DDC has presented more than 20 different productions to its loyal audience in Mainz and on tour throughout the international dance scene.
Tell us more about Delattre Dance Company
Based in Germany at the Mainzer Kammerspiele theatre, since the creation of the DDC in 2012, the professional and international troupe has become an integral part of the dance world. The DDC has also reached a wide audience through its performances on the cultural scene in Germany, but also in France, Austria, Turkey, China, Italy and Switzerland, for example.
Each year, around 5 different productions are presented, with a total number of 45 shows. As well as the much-loved works of international choreographer Stéphen Delattre, the company's repertoire remains varied in terms of aesthetics and emotion. The linear aesthetic and virtuoso technique of its highly skilled dancers serve as a springboard for a new product, a new expression of dance with modern gestures and choreographic dramaturgy that are changing the definition of contemporary dance today.
How do you choose the dancers for your company?
Mr Delattre is looking for talented, motivated and dedicated dancers. Passion, positive approach in the work, a classical technic mixed with a modern dance quality are requested. Stéphen Delattre is not interested in "dancers looking for a job", but into dancers believing in his creative world and artistic vision.
You call many guest choreographers for DDC, how important is for you to have different artists creating for your company?
Next to the colourful repertoire of Stéphen Delattre, every season the DDC adds also new works by international guest choreographers such as Marco Goecke, Bridget Breiner, Kevin O'Day, Douglas Lee, Kenneth Tindall, and many others. This varied repertoire of neoclassical and contemporary choreographers has helped make the DDC a contemporary ballet company renowned for its unique style.
Tell us about how was to choreograph for Polina Semionova
Stéphen Delattre has also received numerous private commissions from star dancers of the Paris Opéra Ballet, Stuttgart State Ballet, Berlin State Ballet, Vienna State Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet, English National Ballet, Semperoper Ballett and Karlsruhe Staatstheater. In 2012, his creation for the Étoile du Ballet de l'Opéra de Paris, Marie-Agnès Gillot, was presented for the 20th anniversary of the Benois de la Danse on the main stage of the illustrious Bolshoi Theatre. In 2022, Stéphen Delattre created "Face my Fears" for international stars Polina Semionova and Dmitry Semionov, and this duet has been performed at a number of prestigious dance events. This last experience reminds as one of his most inspiring and dear memory!
You are often in Italy, what do you think about the Italian dance scene?
Mr Delattre is also a guest member of the jury at various international choreography and dance competitions around the world, but mainly in Italy. Many good schools are based in Italy, preparing many talented dancers for the professional dance scene. Unfortunately, there are not many options for work in Italy, so often Mr Delattre gives the chance to young dancers to join the Delattre Dance Company and/or the junior group, the Evolution Dance Platform in Germany.
Tell us more about the Evolution dance platform!
Since 2022, Stéphen Delattre has also created a new platform for young dancers, a professional training programme that works in collaboration with the Delattre Dance Company.
This Evolution Dance Platform project remains unique in Germany and Europe, giving a new generation of dancers the chance to create a future for themselves in the professional world of dance. In recent years, Mr Delattre has not only contributed to the development of dance and its young artists on a cultural and educational level, but has also built an international audience by touching the heart of today's society.
Is there a creation you are proud of? And how do you get the inspiration for your choreographies?
Stéphen Delattre has created more than 80 works for the DDC and other professional companies around the world. Some of his best works could be "Frankenstein", "The picture of Dorian Gray", "Black Snow", "A voice for the forgotten" or again "From Bad to Worst" that won the "2010 Critics’ Prize" at the International Choreographers' Competition in Hanover, and the 2008 Best Choreographer Award from "Dance for you magazine".
Mr Delattre's versatile choreographic style has led to him being regularly invited as a freelance choreographer by prestigious theatre companies and dance academies, such as the Elmhurst Young Ballet in Birmingham (England), the National Dance Academy Beijing (China), the National Conservatory of Prague (Czech Republic), the Jeune Ballet d'Anvers (Belgium), the Conservatoire national supérieur de danse de Lyon, the École supérieure de danse de Cannes and the École nationale supérieure de danse de Marseille (throughout France).
Mr Delattre has had the pleasure of creating works for many outstanding ensembles throughout the world and in his home country of Germany. These include the Split National Ballet (Croatia), Balletto di Milano (Italy), National Modern Dance Company Ankara (Turkey), Dance Company State Theater Kielce (Poland), International Dance Festival Busan (Korea), Staatsoper Ballett Hanover, Ballett des Staatstheater Mainz, Ballett des Saarländisches Staatstheater Saarbrucken, Ballet Augsburg, Tanzkompanie Staatstheater Braunshweig, Gallus Theater Frankfurt, Ballett Hagen, Ballett Koblenz (all in Germany).
Tell us about your next projects
Since 2014, Stéphen Delattre premiered five original full-length narrative works: "MOMO", "Notre-Dame de Paris", "The Picture of Dorian Gray", "Alice in Wonderland" and "Frankenstein". Next to his gusting and a new production "Gifted 4" for the DDC, Stéphen Delattre is right now creating his new story-ballet "Snow White and the Dark Queen", inspired by the Grimm's Brothers.
Do you still have dreams to realize?
Mr Delattre is always looking for new challenges and has indeed the deep feeling that he still have more to do...
Any suggestions to the young aspiring dancers?
Work, work, work, think, feel for real, and don't forget to believe and to be generous in each move you do!
What do you do when you are not working?
At the moment, Stéphen Delattre does not have much space outside the working time, but when he can, he enjoys to spend some time gardening in his house, and share some rare and precious time with his family and friends.
Picture credits:
Photo by Klaus Wegele
(C) Delattre Dance Company