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Michel Lidvac

Michel Lidvac

Ballet

New

Contrasts

Trisha Brown / David Dawson / Imre, Marne van Opstal

Palais Garnier

from 01 to 31 December 2025

from €30 to €260

2h22 with 2 intervals

Synopsis

Listen to the synopsis

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This programme entitled Contrasts opens with two pieces by Trisha Brown. O złożony / O composite, created in 2004 for the Paris Opera Ballet, was an opportunity for the Company to experiment with “post-modern dance”.

With this season’s addition to the repertoire of If you couldn’t see me, a solo danced back to the audience, the Opera is reinforcing its link with the emblematic New York avant‑garde choreographer, who died in 2017.

In Anima Animus, British choreographer David Dawson not only explores the masculine and the feminine, but also plays on the contrasts between technical virtuosity and lyrical poetry whilst employing classical vocabulary.

Finally, Imre and Marne van Opstal, brother and sister from the Netherlands, present their first work for the Paris Opera: Drift Wood. The symbol of driftwood, representing resilience, adaptability and abandonment, also reminds us of the beauty of nature and the passage of time.

Duration : 2h22 with 2 intervals

  • Opening

  • O zlozony / O composite 20 min

  • Short Intermission 2 min

  • If You Couldn't see me 10 min

  • Intermission 20 min

  • Anima Animus 30 min

  • Intermission 20 min

  • Drift Wood 40 min

  • End

Artists

Creative team

Cast

  • Monday 01 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Tuesday 02 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Wednesday 03 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Friday 05 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Saturday 06 December 2025 at 20:00
  • Sunday 07 December 2025 at 20:00
  • Monday 08 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Wednesday 10 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Thursday 11 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Saturday 13 December 2025 at 20:00
  • Sunday 14 December 2025 at 20:00
  • Monday 15 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Wednesday 17 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Thursday 18 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Saturday 20 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Sunday 21 December 2025 at 15:00
  • Tuesday 23 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Wednesday 24 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Friday 26 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Sunday 28 December 2025 at 15:00
  • Monday 29 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Tuesday 30 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Wednesday 31 December 2025 at 19:30

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Entry to the repertoire

Creative team

Cast

  • Monday 01 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Tuesday 02 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Wednesday 03 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Friday 05 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Saturday 06 December 2025 at 20:00
  • Sunday 07 December 2025 at 20:00
  • Monday 08 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Wednesday 10 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Thursday 11 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Saturday 13 December 2025 at 20:00
  • Sunday 14 December 2025 at 20:00
  • Monday 15 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Wednesday 17 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Thursday 18 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Saturday 20 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Sunday 21 December 2025 at 15:00
  • Tuesday 23 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Wednesday 24 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Friday 26 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Sunday 28 December 2025 at 15:00
  • Monday 29 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Tuesday 30 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Wednesday 31 December 2025 at 19:30

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Entry to the repertoire

Creative team

Cast

  • Monday 01 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Tuesday 02 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Wednesday 03 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Friday 05 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Saturday 06 December 2025 at 20:00
  • Sunday 07 December 2025 at 20:00
  • Monday 08 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Wednesday 10 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Thursday 11 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Saturday 13 December 2025 at 20:00
  • Sunday 14 December 2025 at 20:00
  • Monday 15 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Wednesday 17 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Thursday 18 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Saturday 20 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Sunday 21 December 2025 at 15:00
  • Tuesday 23 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Wednesday 24 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Friday 26 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Sunday 28 December 2025 at 15:00
  • Monday 29 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Tuesday 30 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Wednesday 31 December 2025 at 19:30

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Creation

Creative team

Cast

  • Monday 01 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Tuesday 02 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Wednesday 03 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Friday 05 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Saturday 06 December 2025 at 20:00
  • Sunday 07 December 2025 at 20:00
  • Monday 08 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Wednesday 10 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Thursday 11 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Saturday 13 December 2025 at 20:00
  • Sunday 14 December 2025 at 20:00
  • Monday 15 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Wednesday 17 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Thursday 18 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Saturday 20 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Sunday 21 December 2025 at 15:00
  • Tuesday 23 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Wednesday 24 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Friday 26 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Sunday 28 December 2025 at 15:00
  • Monday 29 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Tuesday 30 December 2025 at 19:30
  • Wednesday 31 December 2025 at 19:30

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

Latest update 04 December 2025, cast is likely to change.

With the Paris Opera Étoiles, Premières Danseuses, Premiers Danseurs and Corps de Ballet
Recorded music
A recording of Contrasts will be made, directed by François-René Martin, produced by the Opéra national de Paris with the support of the Orange Foundation, sponsor of the Paris Opera's audiovisual broadcasts, for a broadcast at a later date on Paris Opera Play, the Paris Opera's streaming website.

Media

DAVID DAWSON about ANIMA ANIMUS (interview)
DAVID DAWSON about ANIMA ANIMUS (interview)
  • A faceless dancer - Germain Louvet in rehearsal

    A faceless dancer - Germain Louvet in rehearsal

    Watch the video

  • A community adrift - Drift Wood in creation

    A community adrift - Drift Wood in creation

    Watch the video

  • Les Grands Entretiens, with José Martinez and David Dawson

    Les Grands Entretiens, with José Martinez and David Dawson

    Watch the video

A faceless dancer - Germain Louvet in rehearsal

Watch the video

5:50 min

A faceless dancer - Germain Louvet in rehearsal

By Antony Desvaux

Trisha Brown's ballet If you couldn't see me is entering the Paris Opera Ballet's repertoire for the Contrastes show at the Palais Garnier. 

A solo created by the choreographer herself in 1994, If you couldn't see me is performed with the dancer's back to the audience, never once showing their face. 

Étoile dancer Germain Louvet places the piece in its artistic and political context, and explains how the solo deconstructs the classical codes of performance. 

Germain Louvet finally details how Trisha Brown's language unfolds, and in particular how extreme precision in writing can take on the appearance of chance and accident.

A community adrift - Drift Wood in creation

Watch the video

6:31 min

A community adrift - Drift Wood in creation

By Antony Desvaux

the occasion of the Contrastes show at the Palais Garnier, Imre and Marne van Opstal are creating a ballet for the dancers of the Paris Opera for the first time. Their piece Drift Wood, whose title evokes pieces of wood floating adrift, nostalgically explores the idea of community.

The two choreographers, who are brother and sister, explain how they worked with their collaborators to devise the set design, music and costumes for Drift Wood in order to create a world that both hides and reveals each person's emotional secrets. 

Finally Imre and Marne van Opstal describe their gestural language and how they work with the dancers in the studio.

Les Grands Entretiens, with José Martinez and David Dawson

Watch the video

José Martinez, David Dawson

18:52 min

Les Grands Entretiens, with José Martinez and David Dawson

By Isabelle Stibbe

When an artist meets the Paris Opera's General Manager or its Director of Dance, what do they discuss? In this new series entitled Les Grands Entretiens, the Paris Opera lifts the veil on the artistic line-up of new productions for the 25/26 season. The choice of guest artists, the key themes, the directors' creative intentions and the choreographic styles: these exclusive twenty-minute exchanges offer you the first keys to the works that will soon be on the bill.

In this interview, Director of Dance José Martinez discusses the choreographic style and themes of Anima Animus with choreographer David Dawson. The ballet is making its repertoire debut at the Paris Opera.  

opera logo
Watch Contrasts online on POP


The recording of the show will be available online on Monday, January 26, 2026, starting at 7:00 p.m.

WATCH ONLINE Free trial 7 days

Access and services

Palais Garnier

Place de l'Opéra

75009 Paris

Public transport

Underground Opéra (lignes 3, 7 et 8), Chaussée d’Antin (lignes 7 et 9), Madeleine (lignes 8 et 14), Auber (RER A)

Bus 20, 21, 27, 29, 32, 45, 52, 66, 68, 95, N15, N16

Calculate my route
Car park

Parking Q-Park Edouard VII and Q-Park Meyerbeer 16 rue Bruno Coquatrix 4 rue de la Chaussée d'Antin 75009 Paris

Book your spot at a reduced price
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“We don’t just create to make beautiful things. We also want to challenge people. Sometimes we need to show what’s wrong about something and to oppose something in that, or to create friction.” - Imre van Opstal (Present Space, 2024) 

BUY THE PROGRAM
  • Cloakrooms

    Free cloakrooms are at your disposal. The comprehensive list of prohibited items is available here.

  • Bars

    Reservation of drinks and light refreshments for the intervals is possible online up to 24 hours prior to your visit, or at the bars before each performance.

  • Restaurant

    CoCo is open every day from 12:00 pm to 2:00 am. More information on coco-paris.com or at +33 1 42 68 86 80 (reservations).

  • Parking

    Parking is available at two nearby locations: Q-Park Edouard VII located at 16 rue Bruno Coquatrix - 75009 Paris and Q-Park Meyerbeer located at 4 rue de la Chaussée d'Antin - 75009 Paris

    Book your spot at a reduced price

At the Palais Garnier, buy €10 tickets for seats in the 6th category (very limited visibility, two tickets maximum per person) on the day of the performance at the Box offices.

In both our venues, discounted tickets are sold at the box offices from 30 minutes before the show:

  • €25 tickets for under-28s, unemployed people (with documentary proof less than 3 months old) and senior citizens over 65 with non-taxable income (proof of tax exemption for the current year required)
  • €40 tickets for senior citizens over 65

Get samples of the operas and ballets at the Paris Opera gift shops: programmes, books, recordings, and also stationery, jewellery, shirts, homeware and honey from Paris Opera.

Palais Garnier
  • Every day from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and until performances end
  • Get in from Place de l’Opéra or from within the theatre’s public areas
  • For more information: +33 1 53 43 03 97

Palais Garnier

Place de l'Opéra

75009 Paris

Public transport

Underground Opéra (lignes 3, 7 et 8), Chaussée d’Antin (lignes 7 et 9), Madeleine (lignes 8 et 14), Auber (RER A)

Bus 20, 21, 27, 29, 32, 45, 52, 66, 68, 95, N15, N16

Calculate my route
Car park

Parking Q-Park Edouard VII and Q-Park Meyerbeer 16 rue Bruno Coquatrix 4 rue de la Chaussée d'Antin 75009 Paris

Book your spot at a reduced price
super alt text
super alt text
super alt text
super alt text
super alt text
super alt text

“We don’t just create to make beautiful things. We also want to challenge people. Sometimes we need to show what’s wrong about something and to oppose something in that, or to create friction.” - Imre van Opstal (Present Space, 2024) 

BUY THE PROGRAM
  • Cloakrooms

    Free cloakrooms are at your disposal. The comprehensive list of prohibited items is available here.

  • Bars

    Reservation of drinks and light refreshments for the intervals is possible online up to 24 hours prior to your visit, or at the bars before each performance.

  • Restaurant

    CoCo is open every day from 12:00 pm to 2:00 am. More information on coco-paris.com or at +33 1 42 68 86 80 (reservations).

  • Parking

    Parking is available at two nearby locations: Q-Park Edouard VII located at 16 rue Bruno Coquatrix - 75009 Paris and Q-Park Meyerbeer located at 4 rue de la Chaussée d'Antin - 75009 Paris

    Book your spot at a reduced price

At the Palais Garnier, buy €10 tickets for seats in the 6th category (very limited visibility, two tickets maximum per person) on the day of the performance at the Box offices.

In both our venues, discounted tickets are sold at the box offices from 30 minutes before the show:

  • €25 tickets for under-28s, unemployed people (with documentary proof less than 3 months old) and senior citizens over 65 with non-taxable income (proof of tax exemption for the current year required)
  • €40 tickets for senior citizens over 65

Get samples of the operas and ballets at the Paris Opera gift shops: programmes, books, recordings, and also stationery, jewellery, shirts, homeware and honey from Paris Opera.

Palais Garnier
  • Every day from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and until performances end
  • Get in from Place de l’Opéra or from within the theatre’s public areas
  • For more information: +33 1 53 43 03 97

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  • the Paris Opera's streaming platform

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