Festival highlights historic Arles sites

Monument Arles has organized a three-day festival featuring live performances at various historic sites in the city, including the Alyscamps, the Palais de l'Archevêché, the Van Gogh Space, the amphitheater, the Thermes de Constantin, the Cryptoportiques, the town hall, the church of Sainte-Blaise, and the ancient theater. Over 50 events are planned, with cultural heritage services inviting approximately 100 artists to participate.

Festival aims to revive cultural spaces

The festival aims to bring monuments to life and highlight their significance as vibrant spaces for gathering and cultural exchange. Some of the monuments are over a millennium old, with six listed as part of the UNESCO World Heritage.

Local artists showcase diverse talents

Local artists are encouraged to express themselves through various art forms, including theater, dance, music, graphic art, photography, cinema, poetry, puppetry, children's performances, and poetic walking performances. The Arles Youth Ballet Company, based in Fourques for six years, performed at the Thermes de Constantin on the first day of school holidays.

Performance at ancient site draws interest

Cathy attended the performance specifically to rediscover the site, which dates back to the third century. The choreography, created by Norton Fantinel for this occasion, features six couples moving in a neoclassical space to music by Philip Glass and lasts approximately 15 minutes.

Youth ballet company gains recognition

Marie Barbe, secretary and treasurer of the association, noted that being invited by "Monument Arles" is an opportunity and a form of recognition from the city of Arles. The Arles Youth Ballet Company has 41 dancers this year from 16 different nationalities, all aiming for professional careers after three years of training.

Dancers perform at ancient theater

They performed two short pieces, "Falling hearts" and "Inside of you," at the Ancient Theater at 5 p.m. In the courtyard of the Archbishop's Palace, the company of the Arena presented La Hora Francesca, a lyrical concert that invites listeners to travel through the Spanish repertoire, gradually blending into the poetic universe of French composers from the 19th and 20th centuries.

Performance resists weather conditions

The performance, which lasted over an hour, featured piano and voice and was not disturbed by the wind that began to blow. In the town hall, Sarah Gautier, a self-taught illustrator specializing in "a portrait of space," presented a blue painting measuring two meters by three meters that raises questions about the eight monuments of Arles.

Artwork reimagines Arles through Van Gogh’s lens

Using a black pen, a sheet of paper, and detailed observation of the locations, she reinvented the space as Van Gogh's, entirely painted blue, and placed the monuments of Arles within it. An exhibition of paintings by Sébastien Abot is on display at the Palais de l'Archevêché until November 15, and an in situ plastic installation by Kiki Tonnerre is on display at the church of Saint-Blaise.

Festival continues with free events

The festival continues throughout the day, with performances included in the admission fee for the monuments and free for those under 18 and for Arlesians with proof of residence. The closing performance, tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Amphitheater, is free for everyone and will be presented by the Cercle de feu company.

Closing performance promises spectacle

At the rhythm of percussion, the artists will immerse the public in an timeless and fairy-like world, with the program including fireworks, fire fountains, juggling, and well-crafted choreography.