Le Grand Bal at OZ Arts

Fueled by breathtaking intensity and stunning theatricality, the award-winning performance Le Grand Bal ignited a spark that quickly spread throughout Europe and beyond — becoming one of the most talked-about dance-theater events in recent years. Nine astounding performers become enraptured in a glorious and frenetic trance as their bodies experience a transformative release from the pressures of life in turbulent times. Described by its creators as a dance of “revolt and ecstasy,” the work draws its power from a hyper-physical mix of Hip-hop and contemporary dance. They take their inspiration from a legendary “dance fever” said to have gripped 16th-century Luxembourg. This electrifying frenzy sweeps through the ensemble, evoking a potent metaphor for collective catharsis.

With roots in Hip-hop and breakdance, co-choreographers Souhail Marchiche and Mehdi Meghari incorporate varied contemporary and Arabic movement styles into the work of the company, which is based in Saint-Étienne, France — and now makes its US debut at OZ Arts.