Un saut dans le bleu (A Leap into the Blue) is a large-scale contemporary dance creation by the legendary choreographer Carolyn Carlson, created for the Ballet of the Opéra national du Capitole in Toulouse. Drawing upon more than five decades of artistic exploration, Carlson presents what she describes as a work of “visual poetry,” inviting audiences into a contemplative world where movement, music, colour, and light merge into a profound reflection on the human condition. The title evokes the symbolic power of blue – a colour associated with infinity, spirituality, freedom, and the unknown – and serves as a metaphor for the courage to move beyond one’s limits.
Rather than following a conventional narrative, the performance unfolds through a sequence of poetic episodes inspired by Carlson’s own collection of poems of the same title. The choreography explores themes of memory, vulnerability, hope, conflict, and transformation, allowing each spectator to discover a personal interpretation. Remaining faithful to her long-established artistic philosophy, Carlson creates an abstract yet emotionally resonant landscape where gesture becomes language and movement becomes meditation.
Music plays a central role in the production. French composer and cellist Pierre Le Bourgeois created an original score performed live by musicians of the Orchestre national du Capitole under his own musical direction. Blending orchestral strings with the expressive accordion of Michel Glasko, the music moves fluidly between lyrical passages, contemporary textures, electronic elements, and moments of dramatic intensity. Rather than accompanying the choreography, the score enters into a continuous dialogue with the dancers, creating a rich emotional and atmospheric landscape.
The visual identity of Un saut dans le bleu reflects Carlson’s multidisciplinary approach to theatre. She designed both the sets and costumes herself, creating a unified artistic vision inspired by the paintings of Félix Vallotton and Gerhard Richter. Bold fields of colour, fluid silhouettes, and carefully composed stage images transform the performance into a living canvas. Lighting designer Guillaume Bonneau further shapes the stage through subtle variations of colour and shadow, enhancing the symbolic presence of blue as an ever-changing emotional and spiritual space.
Performed by the Ballet du Capitole, Un saut dans le bleu celebrates the expressive potential of the ensemble while highlighting Carlson’s unique choreographic language – one that balances physical precision with improvisational freedom and deep emotional authenticity. The result is an immersive theatrical experience that transcends storytelling to become an invitation to reflection, imagination, and inner transformation. Through its seamless fusion of dance, live music, and visual art, Un saut dans le bleu stands as a powerful testament to Carolyn Carlson‘s enduring legacy as one of the defining poetic voices of contemporary dance.
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