Choreographer Benjamin Millepied faced an uncommon challenge: devising two brief dance performances for the championship matches at Roland Garros. This task came with a specific direction to create dynamic and expansive works.
As the rehearsal progressed, Millepied instructed the dancers, “Remember you can’t touch it!” This command echoed as dancers lifted one another above an imaginary net on an imagined tennis court. “One more time,” he said, setting Rosalía’s song “Reliqua” on repeat. “Keep in mind the court is much bigger, so we’ll expand out.” It marked just eight days before the final weekend of the French Open.
Millepied, a French choreographer, had been commissioned to develop two concise dances. These performances would precede the finals at the tournament—the women’s final on Saturday and the men’s final on Sunday. While previous tournaments had featured opening ceremonies before the final matches, this year presented something unique. Organizer Amélie Mauresmo sought “bold, big dances to really push things,” according to Millepied.
This project underscores the intriguing relationship between tennis and dance. Millepied observed, “Tennis is an art of change of direction, as is dance.” Such a sentiment highlights how both disciplines require precision, agility, and creative expression.
The upcoming performances illustrate an intersection of sports and art, offering spectators at Roland Garros an enhanced experience.
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