Where to see dance in Nantes

Nantes is full of stages that programme dance all year round. Here is a simple, warm guide to help you choose your first outing, as a couple, with friends or as a family.

A city that dances all year round

We often imagine dance to be reserved for insiders, for grand Parisian venues or for enthusiasts who already know the vocabulary. In Nantes, it is quite the opposite. Dance is lived everywhere, in vast theatres as in more intimate venues, and you need no prior knowledge to let yourself be carried along. The first time you see bodies telling a story without a word, something happens. Often, the urge to try follows close behind.

The great stages of Nantes

Le Grand T is probably the ideal way in. With more than two hundred and fifty performances each season, between theatre, dance and circus, you are bound to find an evening to suit you. The dance programme there is generous and accessible, designed for every audience.

Le Lieu Unique, housed in the former LU biscuit factory, blends the arts with a fine sense of freedom. There you come across contemporary dance, performances and more surprising proposals, in a friendly atmosphere where you can also have a drink before the show.

TU-Nantes, on the university campus, champions young creations and today's writing. It is a lively, curious place, perfect for discovering up-and-coming artists at a low price.

For a more formal evening, the Théâtre Graslin, the magnificent home of Angers Nantes Opéra, hosts outstanding dance events. The Cité des Congrès and Stereolux round out the landscape with varied formats, from the large stage to more electric proposals.

The festivals that set winter buzzing

Every winter, Nantes comes alive around two highlights. The Trajectoires festival unfolds dozens of contemporary and present-day dance performances across several venues in the metropolis. Emerging or established companies, bold creations, there is plenty to spark the curiosity of even the most novice. For its part, Hip Opsession celebrates the whole of hip-hop culture, with concerts, battles and dance shows of infectious energy. Two different worlds, one and the same invitation to open your eyes wide.

Watching, then wanting to do

Here is what we often observe at the Atelier du Mouvement. Many of our pupils began with an outing, an unexpected emotion in front of a stage, a child who comes home imitating the moves seen the night before. Attending a show is sometimes the first step towards taking part. Dance stops being a distant object and becomes something you can live yourself, at your own pace.

It is in this spirit that our school presents its annual show at the Théâtre Capellia, in La Chapelle-sur-Erdre, north of Nantes. Our pupils take to the stage there after a year of work, and you feel that same shared joy as in the great venues. If you want to understand the emotion of the end of the season from behind the scenes, our account The end-of-year show, everyone on stage will tell you more.

And what if it were your turn?

After applauding others, why not step through the door of a studio? Whether you are an adult beginner, a curious parent or a child full of energy, there is a class for you. Take the time to find the class that suits you, or simply write to us. The finest dance outing of all might just be the one where you are on stage.