Nacera Belaza’s La Nuée: A Hypnotic Dance of Endurance and Communion

In La Nuée, choreographer Nacera Belaza—born in Algeria and based in Paris—crafts a profound meditation on collective ritual, communion, and ecstatic repetition. Drawing inspiration from the dances of the Dakota tribes, where circularity, endurance, and shared presence lie at the heart of community, Belaza invites seven dancers to move in rhythmic, hypnotic waves that pulse through a near-dark space. Like a charcoal drawing coming to life, the piece unfolds through bodies that appear and disappear in sharp, sculpted flashes of light, creating shifting tableaux on the edge of visibility.

An immersive soundscape anchors the choreography, weaving together ancestral rhythms and contemporary movement to reveal the invisible threads connecting bodies across time, space, and culture. Through its subtle intensity and contemplative power, La Nuée offers audiences an exploration of togetherness, transcendence, and the timeless need for ritual.

Supported by Albertine Dance, a program of Villa Albertine & Albertine Foundation.