Summer Festival Fever

First among this summer’s must-see events is the return of the Grand Palais. Fresh from its ambitious renovation and reopening last year, the landmark unveils the second edition of Grand Palais d’Été. Beneath its restored glass nave and newly enhanced Art Deco staircases, the monumental venue — which hosted Olympic fencing and taekwondo events last summer — now turns once again to culture with a program largely dedicated to dance and music. Through July 18, audiences can expect hip-hop, contemporary dance, a waacking battle led by the iconic Josépha Madoki, performances by the Ballet de Lorraine directed by Maud Le Pladec, appearances by singer Eddy de Pretto and Saturday-night DJ after-parties under the Grand Palais’ glowing glass roof.

www.grandpalais.fr

The city’s major summer rendezvous remains, of course, Paris l’Été. Want to join a fashion show, take part in a lookalike contest, read or write on stage, rehearse for a participatory dance ball, or discover contemporary circus, dance and live music in unusual settings? Paris l’Été continues to reinvent itself each year through playful, inventive formats open to everyone. Performances unfold across remarkable venues throughout the city: the Tuileries Garden as part of the Étés du Louvre program, Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, the Monnaie de Paris, the Carreau du Temple, libraries, school courtyards, a villa designed by Le Corbusier — and even surprise locations revealed at the last minute.

• July 11 to August 4.
• www.parislete.fr

Josépha Madoki during last year’s battle waacking for the opening of the first Grand Palais festival.

What will you present at the Grand Palais this summer?
“With my Ballet de Lorraine company, we’ll bring back Synchronicité, originally created for the Olympic opening ceremony with 50 dancers, followed by a piece for 17 dancers and finally a trio. I like the idea of gradually scaling things down. The Grand Palais is immense, yet paradoxically very intimate as well. Then we’ll present our dance-concert collaboration with Eddy de Pretto, which was a huge success at Théâtre de Chaillot.”

You are originally from Rennes and now direct the Centre Chorégraphique National–Ballet de Lorraine in Nancy. What place does Paris occupy in your imagination?
“A huge one, especially because I live here too. Ten years ago, I never imagined wanting to live in Paris. But preparing for the Olympic Games completely changed my perspective. I love the anonymity of the city, its diversity, the absence of rigid norms and the place fashion occupies within Parisian life. Paris feels like a living stage that I observe from café terraces in my neighborhood. I especially love the Coyotte bar on rue des Archives and Pontochou Café on rue du Pont-aux-Choux, known for its fusion pastries.”

This year, you performed at Palais Garnier, Chaillot, Théâtre de la Ville, the Philharmonie de Paris and La Seine Musicale. Which Parisian venues do you still dream of?
“I haven’t yet experienced the stage of Théâtre du Châtelet or the galleries of the Louvre. But why not dream even bigger? An outdoor square, the Louvre Pyramid, the Champ-de-Mars… I like thinking on a grand scale. Choreographing the Olympic closing ceremony was an incredible adrenaline rush. I could absolutely do it again tomorrow.”