ABOUT
ETIENNE BÉCHARD
Born in France in 1987, Etienne Béchard has had the privilege of flourishing as an artist within renowned companies throughout his career. At the age of 22, driven by the desire to bring his own artistic vision to life, he left the Béjart Ballet Lausanne, where he closely collaborated with Maurice Béjart on his latest creations, and founded Opinion Public Dance Company in Brussels.
In addition to leading his own company as artistic and general director for 13 years, he has had the honor of being invited to create choreographic works with major international companies such as Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, the Bern Ballet, and the Ballet de l'Opéra du Rhin, among others, bringing his artistic vision and diverse repertoire.
This multitude of styles and forms of expression in his creations offers a rich and varied artistic experience, attracting a broad audience and enabling dancers to develop their versatility in a physical and dynamic approach combining aesthetics, acrobatics, and explosive movements through poetic imagery, and with a commitment to highlighting various social causes, sometimes with satire.
Motivating his team is also a cornerstone for him in an environment where artists feel supported, motivated, respected, valued, and encouraged to give their best.
O SUPERMAN 2024 - Dance Arts Faculty Roma
ANGER 2023 - Buehnen Bern Ballet
SYMPHONIE IMAGINAIRE 2023 - Les Grands Ballets Canadiens
GREEN RESET 2023 - Opinion Public Dance Company
CARMEN 2022 - Les Grands Ballets Canadiens
UP SIDE DOWN 2022 - Buehnen Bern Ballet
ECRAN DE FUMEE 2021 - Opinion Public Dance Company
CONTACT ZERO 2020 - Opinion Public Dance Company
ROCKING CHAIR 2019 - Opinion Public Dance Company
Mr RABBIT 2019 - Buehnen Bern Ballet
ÆTERNA 2018 - Opinion Public Dance Company
SWAN 2018 - Buehnen Bern Ballet
LE SACRE DU PRINTEMPS 2018 - Les Grands Ballets Canadiens
BOLERO 2017 - Konzert Theater Bern
ARCADIA 2017 - Opinion Public Dance Company
...CUPIDON S’EN FOUT 2016 - Ballet de l’Opéra National du Rhin
Mr FOLLOWER 2015 - Opinion Public Dance Company
POST ANIMA 2014 - Opinion Public Dance Company
BOB’ART 2013 - Opinion Public Dance Company
OBSOLESCENCE 2012 - Opinion Public Dance Company
APART/HEID 2011 - Opinion Public Dance Company
OPINION PUBLIC 2010 - Opinion Public Dance Company
PASSAGER CLANDESTIN 2009 - Opinion Public Dance Company
Choreographer and artistic director, Etienne Béchard has been working in the performing arts world for over 15 years as a choreographer in various structures in Europe and internationally. Trained at the Atelier Rudra-Béjart, he began his career at the Béjart Ballet Lausanne, where he worked alongside Maurice Béjart before founding Opinion Public Dance Company in Brussels in 2010.
His work is based on a physical and dynamic approach, where the aesthetics of movement are combined with a visual and immersive narrative. Through his creations, he develops a stage language mixing dance, theater and acrobatics. He also explores the production of short films and musical composition, integrating these disciplines into his works to enrich their dramaturgy and open new artistic perspectives.
His artistic vision is part of a desire to strengthen the synergy between art and society, by creating works that resonate with the public and reflect the challenges of the modern world. He aspires to offer accessible dance, anchored in major sociocultural themes, and is constantly looking for new ways to stage them. For him, dance is a space for authentic connection, a way to question our times and unite an audience beyond cultural barriers.
Choreographic assistant
Emma Garau Cima
Emma Garau Cima a été danseuse à la Compañía Nacional de Danza II sous la direction de Nacho Duato et est actuellement première soliste aux Grands Ballets Canadiens. Elle a interprété de nombreux rôles principaux et a travailler avec des chorégraphes renommés tels que Jiri Kylian, Mats Ek, Ohad Naharin, et bien d’autres. Dans ses collaborations avec Étienne Béchard, Emma joue un rôle important dans la création et la production de projets artistiques. Elle a suivi une formation en gestion des entreprises culturelles à l'université HEC Montréal, ainsi qu'en arts social aux Grands Ballets Canadiens, en collaboration avec le Cirque du Soleil.
Costume designer
Emma Paris
Describe the team member here. Write a brief description of their role and responsibilities, or a short bio with a background summary.
Set designer
Till Kuhnert
Describe the team member here. Write a brief description of their role and responsibilities, or a short bio with a background summary.
ARTISTIC TEAM
Emma Garau Cima
Collaborator
&
Choreographic Assistant
Emma Garau Cima
Collaborator & Choreographic Assistant
Emma Garau Cima was a dancer at Compañía Nacional de Danza II under the direction of Nacho Duato and is currently a principal soloist at Les Grands Ballets Canadiens. She has performed numerous leading roles and has worked with renowned choreographers such as Jiri Kylian, Mats Ek, Ohad Naharin, and many others. In her collaborations with Etienne Béchard, Emma plays an important role in the creation and production of artistic projects. She pursued training in cultural business management at HEC Montréal University, as well as in social arts at Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, in collaboration with Cirque du Soleil.
Emma Paris
Costume designer
Emma Paris began her training in clothing design in 2010, then joined the Brussels School of Fine Arts where she obtained a Bachelor's degree in Textile Design in 2015, followed by a specialized Master's degree in knitwear in 2016. Since 2014, she has been collaborating with Etienne Béchard, contributing to numerous creations. Additionally, she has been working at Ubisoft, a major video game company, since 2017, where she designs costumes for video games.
Till Kuhnert
Set designer
Till Kuhnert has worked as an independent set designer, costume designer, and interior architect since 1998, with a particular focus on dance. He has collaborated repeatedly with Stephan Thoss, Felix Landerer, and Martin Stiefermann, as well as on productions by Johannes Wieland, Verena Weiss, Roni Haver & Guy Weizman, and Marko E. Weigert & Dan Pelleg. His first collaboration with Etienne Béchard began in 2017, and since then, he has created several set designs for their joint creations.
Emma Garau Cima was a dancer at Compañía Nacional de Danza II under the direction of Nacho Duato and is currently a principal soloist at Les Grands Ballets Canadiens. She has performed numerous leading roles and has worked with renowned choreographers such as Jiri Kylian, Mats Ek, Ohad Naharin, and many others. In her collaborations with Etienne Béchard, Emma plays an important role in the creation and production of artistic projects. She pursued training in cultural business management at HEC Montréal University, as well as in social arts at Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, in collaboration with Cirque du Soleil.
Emma Paris
Costume designer
Emma Paris began her training in clothing design in 2010, then joined the Brussels School of Fine Arts where she obtained a Bachelor's degree in Textile Design in 2015, followed by a specialized Master's degree in knitwear in 2016. Since 2014, she has been collaborating with Etienne Béchard, contributing to numerous creations. Additionally, she has been working at Ubisoft, a major video game company, since 2017, where she designs costumes for video games.
Till Kuhnert
Set designer
Till Kuhnert has worked as an independent set designer, costume designer, and interior architect since 1998, with a particular focus on dance. He has collaborated repeatedly with Stephan Thoss, Felix Landerer, and Martin Stiefermann, as well as on productions by Johannes Wieland, Verena Weiss, Roni Haver & Guy Weizman, and Marko E. Weigert & Dan Pelleg. His first collaboration with Etienne Béchard began in 2017, and since then, he has created several set designs for their joint creations.