(LA)HORDE
(LA)HORDE was formed in 2013 by the artists Marine Brutti, Jonathan Debrouwer, and Arthur Harel, and has directed the Ballet national de Marseille since 2019.
Through films and performances (Novaciéries (2015), Cloud Chasers (2016), The Master’s Tools (2017), Cultes (2019), Room With A View (2020), Ghosts (2021), and choreographed pieces (Night Owl, (2016), To Da Bone (2017), Marry Me in Bassiani (2019), Room With A View (2020), Age of Content (2023), (LA)HORDE examines dance's political dimensions, mapping the choreographic forms of uprising, whether isolated or en masse, from raves to traditional dances and even jumpstyle.
Click to see (LA)HORDE's page
Click to see (LA)HORDE's website
Ballet national of Marseille
In 1972, the Mayor of Marseille, Gaston Deferre, suggested to choreographer Roland Petit that he move his company to Marseille, in order to revitalise the city’s opera. At the time, Petit's company was touring around France and the world. He accepted and created the Ballets de Marseille, rooting it in the modern choreographic style of the 1970s and 80s. In November of that same year, he introduced his first creation, PINK FLOYD BALLET, accompanied live by the legendary rock band themselves. Throughout his career, Roland Petit continued ceaselessly to disrupt the conventions of classical ballet and contemporary dance. In Marseille, he established a practice of collaborating with renowned artists: the designer Yves Saint Laurent, the principal dancer Mikhaïl Barychnikov, and the painters Keith Haring and David Hockney…
In 1981, the company became the Ballet national de Marseille, and 11 years later invested in a site specifically designed by the architect Roland Simounet to host the Ballet's activities, as well as those of the École national de danse de Marseille, which was also created by Roland Petit.
The Ballet national de Marseille became a National Choreographic Centre in 1984, under the direction of Roland Petit. He was then succeeded by Marie-Claude Pietragalla (1998-2004), Frédéric Flamand (2004-2014), and Emio Greco and Pieter C.Scholten (2015-2019). Each director developed new artistic dynamics and increased work to raise awareness of the centre.
The collective (LA)HORDE took over direction of the BNM in 2019, after being nominated by the Minister of Culture and the City of Marseille. In line with their predecessors' approach, they view the Ballet as a tool for unrestricted creation, open to all artistic forms of writing and collaboration.
For (LA)HORDE, the Ballet is a safe space, focused on the youth and young artists, to explore new ways of representation and sharing of artistic forms. In their transdisciplinary creations, they question what ballet is in the digital age and continually consider the political concerns that mark our time: diversity, inclusivity, and openness of institutional and cultural sites to bodies and practices that still are not provided with enough visibility.
Associated Artist
Théo Mercier will become an associate artist of the CCN Ballet national de Marseille in September 2025, as part of a program supported by the French Ministry of Culture.
He continues his exploration of performative landscapes and economies of borrowing with a new series of exhibition-performances, to be premiered in 2027, situated at the heart of the extreme tension between artistic institutions and waste centers.
As part of his research, Théo Mercier will lead a series of workshops throughout the season with the Ballet national de Marseille’s permanent dancers and apprentices, and will take part in the curation of the next Moteur de Recherche in spring 2026.
Studio Residency
Call for Projects 1st Semester 2026
As part of the Studio Residency program, established in 1988 by the French Ministry of Culture, the CCN Ballet National de Marseille (BNM) hosts and provides professional support to artists working in the fields of choreography, performance and visual arts, in the making or re-making of a Creation at any stage of production.
In keeping with the artistic project of the BNM, the Studio Residency highlights diverse artistic practices, supporting both emerging and established artists and representing varied aesthetics. The program is open to choreographic and performative works, as well as film and installation pieces.
The bi-annual call for application is open to French and International candidates. Special attention will be given to artists based in the city of Marseille, the Aix-Marseille-Provence metropolis and the Sud region. Selected projects are granted a coproduction fee, studio space and technical, logistical and/or administrative support.
Acceuil Studio residencies – 2nd half of 2026
The Call for Projects for the 2nd half of 2026 is now open and concerns residency requests taking place between August 24 and December 18, 2026.
Download the Call for Projects here and the application form here.
Application deadline: February 22, 2026, at 11:59 pm.
Final decisions will be communicated to applicants in April 2026.
For any inquiries, please contact: studios@ballet-de-marseille.com
Team
Direction
Artistic directors
(LA)HORDE - Marine Brutti, Jonathan Debrouwer, Arthur Harel
Executive director
Clémence Sormani
Executive secretary
Margaux Bez
Artistic
Artistic assistant for (LA)HORDE
Nadia El Hakim
Manager for dancers' preparation
Valentina Pace
Freelance Rehearsal Directors
Jacquelyn Elder, Vito Giotta, Julien Monty, Angel Martinez Hernandez, Béatrice Mille, Céline Signoret
Artistic assistant
Thierry Hauswald
Administration
Manager
(Now recruiting)
Assistant Manager
Carole Bérengier
Human Resources Assistant
David Vincendeau
Accountant
Muriel Négrel
Administration Officer
Valérie Sicard
Production & Distribution
Distribution Officer
Sophie Guéneau
Outreach and Distribution Manager
Pauline Mairone
Production Manager
Emilie Gillot
Production Intern
Lola-Jane Colas
Production and Distribution Assistant
Solene Jarrousse
Communication
Communications Officer
Florence Vaudron (in the absence of Julia Bureau)
Freelance Community manager
Aguila Leite
Public Events
Public Events Officer
Clotilde Eustache
Public Events Assistant
Lina Pinatel
Public Events Intern
Eve Breney
Health
Sport doctor referent
Dr. Thomas Bardot
Osteopath
Jérôme Blanc, Charlotte Louledjian
Kinesitherapist
Emeline Perrin
Technical
Tour Manager
Rémi D’Apolito
Principal Manager
Julien Parra
Buildings and Security Manager
Frédéric Granger
Technician
Youri Aroussi
Board of directors, office members
President
Daniel Hermann
Treasurer
Emmanuelle Luciani
Contact
Pour contacter un membre de l'équipe
première lettre du prénom.nomdefamille[@]ballet-de-marseille.com
Open Call & Audition
Access
20 bd de Gabès, 13008 Marseille
Metro Rond-point du Prado
Bus 19 or 83 Prado Tunis stop
Bike station Prado Tunis
Espace Pro
Credits
Website and digital art by Tristan Bagot & Bottex Elsensohn
Typeface BNM Lunch by Alice Gavin Services
The CCN Ballet National de Marseille, directed by (LA)HORDE, receives support from the Ministry of Culture / Directorate General for Artistic Creation, the DRAC Paca, and the City of Marseille.
