Festival Playground

Playground: Dance takes over Seine-Saint-Denis

Launched in 2022 by the Rencontres Chorégraphiques Internationales de Seine-Saint-Denis, the Playground festival was born from a simple conviction: contemporary dance should move beyond its dedicated spaces and be shared in everyday life, at school, in cultural centers, and in neighborhoods.

The name itself – playground – says it all about the festival's philosophy: it's about creating spaces for discovery and experimentation where the body can dance freely, without hierarchy, without inhibition, in the joy of shared movement.

A traveling festival throughout the territory

Playground spans the entire month of November, taking over a multitude of venues across Seine-Saint-Denis and beyond, in Val-d'Oise and Seine-et-Marne. This widespread presence allows the festival to reach audiences who might not spontaneously attend a performance venue, and to build lasting connections between residents and contemporary choreographic creation.

Among the regularly involved cities and structures:

• Aubervilliers: La Commune CDN, Espace Renaudie
• Pantin: Centre national de la danse (CND)
• Saint-Denis: various cultural facilities
• Montreuil, Bobigny, Noisy-le-Grand and other partner municipalities

A program for all ages

Playground's unique feature is its program designed for all ages and levels of dance knowledge. It includes:

• Shows for very young children (from 2 years old) to introduce young children to movement and dance
• Creations for young audiences designed for families with children
• Adult shows featuring international contemporary dance
• Practical workshops open to all to experiment with movement
• Meet-the-artists sessions after performances

2025 Edition: 4th Edition

The 4th edition of the Playground festival took place from November 4 to 30, 2025, confirming the festival's establishment in the Parisian cultural landscape. The program featured about twenty shows, with international creations and leading French companies. In Aubervilliers, notable performances included Silvia Gribaudi with R.OSA at La Commune, a sharp piece on the body and society, and Bruno Benne with Quatre (Saison) at Espace Renaudie for school groups.

The Rencontres Chorégraphiques: A pillar of dance in the 93

The Rencontres Chorégraphiques Internationales de Seine-Saint-Denis, which organizes Playground, is one of the leading institutions for contemporary dance in France. Founded in 1969, it has helped launch many choreographers who have become major figures on the international scene. With Playground, they extend their mission of disseminating dance in an even more accessible and territorial form.