New York City welcomes back the Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels Festival for its second edition, following its successful 2023 debut. This year, the festival promises an even richer lineup, featuring 20 performances across multiple venues and highlighting both contemporary choreography and the legacy of modern dance.
A central theme of the festival is education and transmission. For the first time, workshops open to the public will be held at the New York Center for Creativity & Dance, offering dancers of all levels the chance to engage directly with choreographers and instructors.
From the opening night, audiences will experience a blend of choreographic heritage and new creations. The Lyon Opera Ballet opens with Merce Cunningham’s BIPED (1999) and Christos Papadopoulos’ Mycelium (2023). Contemporary works continue with (LA)HORDE’s Age of Content (2023) from Ballet National de Marseille, demonstrating a dialogue between modernity and historical choreographic references. Meanwhile, the Guggenheim Museum New York Rotunda transforms into a stage for Lucinda Childs’ Early Works, offering immersive site-specific performances.
Benjamin Millepied and the L.A. Dance Project will perform Reflections: a triptych and Romeo & Juliet Suite (2019), reinterpreting classical influences and Shakespeare’s iconic love story. The festival also celebrates the 100th anniversary of Robert Rauschenberg, revisiting Set and Reset (1983) by Trisha Brown and Merce Cunningham’s Travelogue (1977). Additional highlights include Alessandro Sciarroni’s revival of the Italian polka Save the Last Dance for Me (2019) and Robyn Orlin’s homage to Zulu rickshaw drivers in We Wear Our Wheels with Pride… (2021).
The program spans a variety of choreographic languages. Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker presents EXIT ABOVE – after the tempest (2023) with composer Meskerem Mees, while Nacera Belaza’s La Nuée (2024) blends minimalist movement and trance-like rhythms. Leïla Ka’s Maldonne (2023) explores femininity through gesture, and Noé Soulier returns with The Waves (2018). Hervé Koubi’s Sol Invictus (2023) and Soa Ratsifandrihana’s g r oo v e (2022) offer fresh interpretations of music-driven dance.
By showcasing cross-generational works, immersive performances, and educational initiatives, the festival highlights the diversity and evolution of contemporary dance. According to Serge Laurent, Van Cleef & Arpels’ Director of Dance and Culture Programs, Dance Reflections seeks to foster dialogue between choreographic influences and inspire the creation of new dance languages, celebrating the artistry and innovation of today’s global dance scene.