Festival C'est Comme Ça
The L'échangeur contemporary dance festival in Château-Thierry, with bus transport available from Le Manège in Reims
2026
About C'est Comme Ça
C'est comme ça ! is the contemporary dance festival hosted by L'échangeur - CDCN Hauts-de-France. Held annually throughout September and October in and around Château-Thierry in the Aisne region, the festival features around twenty choreographic performances and "other stage" events, alongside exhibitions, film screenings, meet-and-greets, and workshops, all culminating in the Nuit de la danse. Le Manège, the national stage in Reims, is a partner through the aimé association and organizes bus trips to take audiences from Reims to Château-Thierry for a festival evening. Please note that no performances take place in Reims.
C'est Comme Ça — edition 2026
The 20th edition of the festival runs from September 17th to October 10th, 2026, organized by L'échangeur - CDCN Hauts-de-France in Château-Thierry and its region. Le Manège de Reims is organizing a bus trip for its audience on Saturday, October 10th, for the closing evening featuring Leïla se meurt by Ali Chahrour at 7:00 PM and Chorus by Mickaël Phelippeau at 9:00 PM.
2026 Edition: The 20th Anniversary
L'échangeur - CDCN Hauts-de-France presents the "C'est comme ça !" festival from September 17th to October 10th, 2026, in Château-Thierry and the surrounding area. The program features over three weeks of shows, films, exhibitions, workshops, and meetings, culminating in the Night of Dance on Saturday, October 10th.
The Le Manège de Reims evening
Le Manège has included Saturday, October 10th, in its 2026-2027 season under the "Chez nos voisins" (With our neighbors) section and is chartering a bus to Château-Thierry. Two performances are scheduled that evening: Leïla se meurt by Ali Chahrour at 7:00 PM and Chorus by Mickaël Phelippeau at 9:00 PM. The bus departs from Reims at 5:30 PM, returning late in the evening.
No events in Reims
All performances for the 2026 edition take place in Château-Thierry and its region, at L'échangeur, Espace d'activités U1, Silo U1, La Biscuiterie, and the Cinéma-Théâtre. Le Manège serves only as the departure point for the bus, not as a performance venue.
Highlights C'est Comme Ça 2026
- Leïla se meurt by Ali Chahrour, 7:00 PM on Saturday, October 10th: the performance Le Manège is taking its audience to by bus
- Chorus by Mickaël Phelippeau, 9:00 PM, featuring the 24 singers of the Voix Humaine a cappella ensemble
- Night of Dance, Saturday, October 10th at 7:00 PM, 5 hours of shows and performances to close the 20th edition
- Afternoon of Dance, free of charge, from 2:00 PM to 5:30 PM on the same day
Programme C'est Comme Ça 2026
Saturday, October 10th, 2026 — The evening trip from Reims
- 4:30 PM — "Itinéraire bis": Carpooling organized by the Manège public relations team to arrive early, featuring a presentation of the Danses sans visa project (approx. 2-hour journey), followed by a tour of two festival exhibitions. Contact: Céline Gruyer ([email protected])
- 5:30 PM — Bus departure from Le Manège, 2 boulevard du Général Leclerc in Reims, heading to Château-Thierry
- 7:00 PM — Leïla se meurt — Ali Chahrour · duration 1h · A "concert-dance-lamentation" as described by the author, centered on a professional mourner, featuring two musicians and the choreographer-dancer
- 9:00 PM — Chorus — Mickaël Phelippeau · duration 1h · The 24 singers of the Voix Humaine a cappella ensemble gather on stage for Bach's cantata Nicht so traurig, nicht so sehr
- Late evening — Return bus trip to Reims
The same day in Château-Thierry, the L'échangeur program
- From 2:00 PM — Festival exhibitions · Silo U1 · free admission
- 2:00 PM to 5:30 PM — Afternoon of dance for the whole family · Espace d'activités U1 · free, open access
- 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM — Arts and crafts with the media library · Silo U1 · free admission
- 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM — Dance workshop within the exhibitions with ART21 · Silo U1 · reservation required
- 4:15 PM — Faire soi.e — Bérénice Legrand · La Biscuiterie · reservation required
- 5:00 PM to 5:30 PM — Invitation to dance with Ladji Koné · Espace d'activités U1 courtyard · free admission
- All afternoon — games, sweets, cotton candy, photobooth
- 7:00 PM — Night of Dance · Espace d'activités U1, 53 rue Paul Doucet · duration 5h · shows, performances, and a dancefloor until the early hours, closing the 20th edition
The rest of the 2026 program, running from September 17th to October 9th, takes place in Château-Thierry and the surrounding region. L'échangeur publishes the full schedule on their website; Le Manège de Reims only organizes the trip for the evening of October 10th.
Prices C'est Comme Ça 2026
Practical information — C'est Comme Ça
Festival Locations
Performances are held in Château-Thierry and the surrounding area: L'échangeur - CDCN and the Espace d'activités U1, 53 rue Paul Doucet, 02400 Château-Thierry, as well as the Silo U1, La Biscuiterie, and the Cinéma-Théâtre. L'échangeur phone number: 03 23 82 87 22. No events are held in Reims.
Getting there from Reims
Le Manège charters a bus for the festival evening included in its season program. Departure is from Le Manège, 2 boulevard du Général Leclerc, 51100 Reims, at 5:30 PM, with a return late in the evening. For information, call 03 26 47 30 40 or email [email protected].
Alternative travel
The Le Manège public relations department also organizes carpooling for those who wish to arrive earlier to attend afternoon events. Contact: Céline Gruyer, [email protected].
Official websites
Le Manège de Reims: www.manege-reims.eu · L'échangeur - CDCN Hauts-de-France: echangeur.org
A dance festival in Château-Thierry, with an evening trip from Reims
Since 2006, L'échangeur - CDCN Hauts-de-France has organized C'est comme ça ! every year in September and October in Château-Thierry and the surrounding area. The program includes around twenty choreographic works and "other stage" performances, as well as exhibitions, films, discussions, and workshops. The lineup reflects the current work of the choreographers in residence at the center.
The Traversées
L'échangeur uses the term "Traversée" to describe a weekend that brings together performances sharing a common theme, subject, or artistic thread.
The Nuit de la danse
On the final evening, a mix of shows, performances, concerts, and DJ sets take place at L'échangeur and the Espace d'activités U1—the former LU factory in Château-Thierry—running from early evening until the early hours. The audience is free to move between events and create their own experience.
Le Manège de Reims: A Partner
Le Manège and L'échangeur are united through the aimé association (association interrégionale manège échangeur), which supports artists and fosters audience exchange between the two regions. Each season, Le Manège includes one festival evening in its program under the "Chez nos voisins" (At our neighbors') section and charters a bus from Reims. All performances take place in Château-Thierry.
Where does it take place — C'est Comme Ça
C'est Comme Ça in brief
History of C'est Comme Ça
Edition 2025 Sep 2025Other festivals near Reims
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