Suresnes Cités Danse

Suresnes Cités Danse: Urban Dance as a Universal Language

It all began in July 1991, when Olivier Meyer, director of the Théâtre de Suresnes Jean Vilar, met Doug Elkins, a young New York choreographer from the hip-hop scene. From this meeting, a vision was born: to create a festival dedicated to dances born in the housing projects and streets, these new and explosive forms that shake up the codes of contemporary dance.

In 1993, the first edition of Suresnes Cités Danse was launched. This experimental and visionary festival—the first of its kind in Europe—quickly became an international benchmark, attracting choreographers and dancers from around the world and revealing talents that would shape dance for decades to come.

Thirty Years of Choreographic Revolutions

Over three decades, the festival has witnessed the major transformations of urban and contemporary dance: the emergence of hip-hop as a full-fledged stage art, the birth of krump, waacking, and vogue, and the constant dialogue between these forms and classical contemporary dance. The festival has helped bring street dances into major theaters, revealing to a wide audience the richness and complexity of these often little-known artistic forms.

A Laboratory for Choreographic Ideas

Suresnes Cités Danse is conceived as a laboratory open to experimentation. Each edition hosts new creations, world premieres, and French premieres that testify to the vitality of the contemporary choreographic scene. The festival supports artists in their creative process through residencies, co-productions, and attentive follow-up, establishing itself as a true dance producer.

A Program for All Audiences

The festival is distinguished by its commitment to accessibility. Performances, workshops, outdoor performances, exhibitions, battles, and balls are offered for all ages and levels of knowledge. Dance here is not reserved for insiders but offered to everyone as a living and shared experience.

The 2025 Edition — 33rd Edition

The 33rd edition of Suresnes Cités Danse took place at the Théâtre Jean Vilar in Suresnes in January-February 2025, continuing the tradition of openness to new choreographic forms and exploration of the boundaries between hip-hop and contemporary dance.

The 2026 Edition — 34th Edition

The 34th edition was held from January 9 to February 8, 2026, at the Théâtre Jean Vilar. With 19 performances, 14 choreographers, over 90 dancers, 4 workshops, 5 exhibitions, 1 outdoor performance, 2 post-show talks, 1 battle, and 1 ball, this edition confirmed the festival's richness and diversity. Among the invited choreographers: Jann Gallois, Virgile Dagneaux, Marina Gomes, Mickaël Le Mer, Anthony Egéa, Laura Defretin, and Brandon Masele.