Ballet du Nord – CCN & Vous !

Direction Sylvain Groud

Taking dance to unexpected places and engaging with the inhabitants of Roubaix and the Hauts-de-France region are the driving forces of the CCN & Vous ! project, which Sylvain Groud has championed since he arrived at the Ballet du Nord in 2018.

At the heart of his work are creations that engage and resonate with locals, amateurs and artists through various collaborations. His commitment to spreading dance dates back to his time at the head of the MAD company in Rouen, from 1994 to 2008, where he focused on creating participatory, mobile forms that extended beyond traditional venues. The company has consistently brought dance to unconventional locations, such as in front of Roubaix’s train station, in hospitals, schools and nursing homes, sharing dance directly with the community. Notable examples include the “Let’s Move” participatory performance initiated in 2018, then the duo Dans mes bras. With Impromptus, Sylvain Ground danced solo in the city, redefining the public’s perception of dance and fostering community connection. In 2020, in response to the pandemic, he created 4 m², performed in both theatres and unconventional places. Other significant projects rooted in the Hauts-de-France region and involving its inhabitants include Symbiose, réveil sur le terril (in partnership with 80 amateur dancers) and Bouge ton Bassin, which was created to celebrate the 10^th anniversary of the Mining Bassin’s inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Groud’s passion for social connection drives his belief that meeting other people is not merely a thematic element, but a fundamental part of the creative process. This conviction is why he strives to make dance accessible to all audiences, and bring it to places it has never been before. The CCN & Vous ! project is part of an important local awareness initiative, but Sylvain Ground’s choreographic work also has an international outreach.