Jérôme Bel Performance in Tehran

Iran Saye Theatre Group is thrilled to announce the presentation of “Jérôme Bel,” a profound and introspective performance by the renowned French choreographer Jérôme Bel, staged in Tehran under the challenging conditions of the ongoing war and tensions between Iran and Israel. This “auto-bio-choréo-graphique” work, as Bel describes it, offers a deeply personal exploration of his life in dance, weaving together spoken narrative, archival footage, and performed gestures. Presented as part of Iran Saye Theatre Group’s commitment to bringing bold, experimental art to Tehran, this performance resonates as a beacon of resilience and creativity in times of crisis.

“Jérôme Bel” is a unique exploration of the choreographer’s personal and artistic journey, distinct from his earlier work, such as Isadora Duncan, which focused on a choreographer’s portrait. In this production, Bel takes the stage alone, sharing his doubts, commitments, failures, and passions through a combination of live performance and video archives. The piece traces the linear logic of his career, connecting biographical moments with artistic and political reflections. Rather than a nostalgic retrospective, it serves as a genealogy of the driving forces behind his work, revealing the interplay of the personal, artistic, and political.

Performed in Tehran under extraordinary circumstances, the production carries added weight, embodying the power of art to transcend conflict and foster connection. The performance, approximately two hours long, includes scenes of nudity and is a testament to Bel’s innovative approach to dance and storytelling.

“Jérôme Bel” builds on the choreographer’s earlier work while offering a deeply personal narrative, distinct from his previous focus on performers’ lives. The piece articulates fragments of Bel’s life, career, and intellectual project, revealing their interconnected structures. As described by Florian Gaité for the Festival d’Automne à Paris (2021), it is not merely a retrospective but a genealogy of the elements driving Bel’s oeuvre, where the personal intertwines with the artistic and political. Staged in Tehran amidst war, this performance underscores the universal power of art to reflect, challenge, and unite, making it a significant addition to Iran Saye Theatre Group’s repertoire of experimental works.

The Tehran production team includes:

• Artistic Director: Mehdi Mashhour

• Translator and Performer: Sara Rasouli Nejad

• Lighting and Set Design: Morteza Bakhtiari, Narges Sadeghian

• Videography: Mohammadreza Basiri

• Graphic Design and Visuals: Zahra Fazlollah

The international production team includes:

• Text and Videos: Jérôme Bel

• Assistant: Maxime Kurvers

• Performers: Frédéric Seguette, Claire Haenni, Gisèle Pelozuelo, Yseult Roch, Olga De Soto, Peter Vandenbempt, Sonja Augart, Simone Verde, Esther Snelder, Nicole Beutler, Eva Meyer Keller, Germana Civera, Benoît Izard, Ion Munduate, Cuqui Jerez, Juan Dominguez, Carine Charaire, Hester Van Hasselt, Dina Ed Dik, Amaia Urra, Carlos Pez, Henrique Neves, Johannes Sundrup, Véronique Doisneau, Damian Bright, Matthias Brücker, Remo Beuggert, Julia Häusermann, Tiziana Pagliaro, Miranda Hossle, Peter Keller, Gianni Blumer, Matthias Grandjean, Sara Hess, Lorraine Meier, Simone Truong, Akira Lee, Aldo Lee, Houda Daoudi, Cédric Andrieux, Chiara Gallerani, Taous Abbas, Stéphanie Gomes, Marie-Yolette Jura, Nicolas Garsault, Vassia Chavaroche, Magali Saby, Ryo Bel, Sheila Atala, Diola Djiba, Michèle Bargues, La Bourette, Catherine Gallant

• Images: Herman Sorgeloos, Marie-Hélène Rebois, Aldo Lee, Pierre Dupouey, Olivier Lemaire, Chloé Mossessian

• Video Production: CN D Centre national de la danse, Opéra national de Paris/Telmondis in association with France 2, with participation from Mezzo and Centre national de la cinématographie, R.B. Jérôme Bel/Theater Hora, French Institute Alliance Française – FIAF

• Show Production: R.B. Jérôme Bel

• Co-production: Ménagerie de Verre (Paris), La Commune centre dramatique national d’Aubervilliers, Festival d’Automne à Paris, R.B. Jérôme Bel (Paris)

• Text Contribution: Part of the creative process for Sustainable Theatre?, conceived by Katie Mitchell, Jérôme Bel, and Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne, co-produced by STAGES – Sustainable Theatre Alliance for a Green Environmental Shift, co-financed by the European Union (Dramaten Stockholm, National Theater & Concert Hall Taipei, NTGent, Piccolo Teatro di Milano – Teatro d’Europa, Teatro Nacional D. Maria II Lisbonne, Théâtre de Liège, Théâtre national d’art dramatique de Lituanie, Théâtre national de Croatie Zagreb, Théâtre national slovène Maribor, Trafo Budapest, MC93 Maison de la culture de Seine-Saint-Denis)

• Acknowledgments: Caroline Barneaud, Daphné Biiga Nwanak, Jolente De Keersmaeker, Zoé De Sousa, Florian Gaité, Chiara Gallerani, Danielle Lainé, Xavier Le Roy, Marie-José Malis, Frédéric Seguette, Christophe Wavelet

• Artistic Consultant and Executive Director: Rebecca Lasselin

• Administrator: Sandro Grando