PasSage

‘To give and to receive in return’. By placing these words at the heart of its approach, the Bassa Toscana dance company demonstrates its commitment to engaging with the audience, as well as the significance of a demanding body of work centred on the transmission of ancient knowledge… Founded at the turn of the century, Bassa Toscana has been promoting Renaissance dance for the past 25 years from its base in Auxerre. Sharing the bill with the medieval instrumental ensemble Obsidienne, the company led by Stéphane Quéant and Bernadette Jacquet is now breaking free from the familiar framework of historical transcriptions that have become its hallmark, offering ancient movements a new realm of freedom. Set against a contemporary visual backdrop, its liberated dance engages with the sensibilities of our time. Through a blend of anecdote, history and personal experience, the artists convey their conviction that, to remain vibrant, the arts must come together in a spirit of generosity.