(LA)HORDE was formed in 2013 by the artists Marine Brutti, Jonathan Debrouwer, and Arthur Harel, and has directed the Ballet national de Marseille since 2019.

Through films and performances (Novaciéries (2015), Cloud Chasers (2016), The Master’s Tools (2017), Cultes (2019), Room With A View (2020), Ghosts (2021), and choreographed pieces (Night Owl, (2016), To Da Bone (2017), Marry Me in Bassiani (2019), Room With A View (2020), Age of Content (2023), (LA)HORDE examines dance's political dimensions, mapping the choreographic forms of uprising, whether isolated or en masse, from raves to traditional dances and even jumpstyle.

Click to see (LA)HORDE's page
Click to see (LA)HORDE's website

In 1972, the Mayor of Marseille, Gaston Deferre, suggested to choreographer Roland Petit that he move his company to Marseille, in order to revitalise the city’s opera. At the time, Petit's company was touring around France and the world. He accepted and created the Ballets de Marseille, rooting it in the modern choreographic style of the 1970s and 80s. In November of that same year, he introduced his first creation, PINK FLOYD BALLET, accompanied live by the legendary rock band themselves. Throughout his career, Roland Petit continued ceaselessly to disrupt the conventions of classical ballet and contemporary dance. In Marseille, he established a practice of collaborating with renowned artists: the designer Yves Saint Laurent, the principal dancer Mikhaïl Barychnikov, and the painters Keith Haring and David Hockney…

In 1981, the company became the Ballet national de Marseille, and 11 years later invested in a site specifically designed by the architect Roland Simounet to host the Ballet's activities, as well as those of the École national de danse de Marseille, which was also created by Roland Petit.

The Ballet national de Marseille became a National Choreographic Centre in 1984, under the direction of Roland Petit. He was then succeeded by Marie-Claude Pietragalla (1998-2004), Frédéric Flamand (2004-2014), and Emio Greco and Pieter C.Scholten (2015-2019). Each director developed new artistic dynamics and increased work to raise awareness of the centre.

The collective (LA)HORDE took over direction of the BNM in 2019, after being nominated by the Minister of Culture and the City of Marseille. In line with their predecessors' approach, they view the Ballet as a tool for unrestricted creation, open to all artistic forms of writing and collaboration.

For (LA)HORDE, the Ballet is a safe space, focused on the youth and young artists, to explore new ways of representation and sharing of artistic forms. In their transdisciplinary creations, they question what ballet is in the digital age and continually consider the political concerns that mark our time: diversity, inclusivity, and openness of institutional and cultural sites to bodies and practices that still are not provided with enough visibility.

Maryam Kaba

Maryam Kaba is a dancer, choreographer and activist of French-Ivorian origin.

She is an ex-champion in GRS for France (1992 et 1994), and founded the concept of AFROVIBE® dance fitness in 2013. Inspired by afro-descendant dances, AFROVIBE® upholds the values of self-acceptance, respect, and sharing. Maryam developed the concept in Paris, and then across 4 years in Brazil.

Maryam celebrates multiculturalism and joy. She advocates for collaboration and actions of solidarity. Having moved to Marseille in 2017, she works in France and abroad on celebrating women's (and men's) bodies, encouraging her followers to deconstruct their preconceptions and re-empower their bodies as a way of boosting their self-esteem.

In 2019, she became a member of La famille Maraboutage, an artistic collective of DJs, dancers, and performers who are politically engaged, feminist, antiracist, and allied with the LGBTQI+ community.

Maryam Kaba joined the Ballet national de Marseille in 2022 as the associated artist, and began a process of healing via dance. She created two choreographic pieces in 2024: the solo performance Entre mes jambes, and Joie ultralucide in collaboration with the author Marie Kock, alongside twenty women from the refuge centre Maison des femmes de Marseille.

By forming collaborative workshops, and the curation of events at the heart of the Ballet, Maryam Kaba helps to creatively transform the spaces, alongside the projects with the public.

Maryam will continue to be the associated artist for the 2024/25 season.

Click to see Maryam Kaba's page

Click to see Afrovibe's website

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Each year, the Ballet national de Marseille provides its support to choreographers as part of the Ministry of Culture's 1988 'Accueil Studio' programme.

The application call for residencies during the second semester of 2025 will be published here in spring.

The Ballet national de Marseille also provides rehearsal studios to local companies, depending on availability of space. If you have a question or want to find out more, please contact studios@ballet-de-marseille.com.

Artistic directors
(LA)HORDE - Marine Brutti, Jonathan Debrouwer, Arthur Harel

Executive director
Clémence Sormani

Executive secretary
Jeanne Poquet

Artistic assistant for (LA)HORDE
Nadia El Hakim

Manager for dancers' preparation
Valentina Pace

Artistic assistant
Thierry Hauswald

Manager
Jean-Pascal Sorroché

Assistant Manager
Carole Bérengier

Human Resources Assistant
David Vincendeau

Accountant
Muriel Négrel

Administration Officer
Valérie Sicard

Distribution Officer
Sophie Guéneau

Outreach and Distribution Manager
Pauline Mairone

Production Manager
Emilie Gillot

Production and Distribution Assistant
Margaux Cataluna

Production Assistant (Intern)
Aguila Leite

Communications Officer
Julia Bureau (temporarily absent)

Communications Officer
Florence Vaudron (replacing Julia Bureau)

Communications Assistant (Intern)
Matilda Mitchell Graham

Public Events Officer
Clotilde Eustache

Public Events Assistant
Jasmine Goutal

Costumer
Nicole Murru

Tour Manager
Rémi D’Apolito

Principal Manager
Julien Parra

Buildings and Security Manager
Frédéric Granger

Technician
Youri Aroussi

President
Daniel Hermann

Treasurer
Emmanuelle Luciani

No postings at the moment.

20 bd de Gabès, 13008 Marseille

Metro Rond-point du Prado
Bus 19 or 83 Prado Tunis stop
Bike station Prado Tunis

Website and digital art by Tristan Bagot & Bottex Elsensohn
Typeface BNM Lunch by Alice Gavin Services