Lisa Nelson – danser, une façon de voir
From October 8 to October 17 2026 in Paris and Brussels.
Since the 1970s, American choreographer Lisa Nelson has been exploring the role of the senses both in the act of dancing and in that of watching dance. Starting from the question, “What are we looking at when we look at a dance?”, she developed the Tuning Scores: a practice for warming up attention, sensation, and imagination, as well as aesthetic games of collective dance (re)composition.
From Paris to Brussels, this event celebrates, in Lisa Nelson’s presence, the publication of her book Vivre dans la composition – De la danse comme façon de voir, une introduction aux Tuning Scores [Living in The Composition – On Dance as a Way of Seeing, an Introduction to Tuning Scores], published by Éditions Contredanse.
A unique opportunity to discover this approach through several formats:
An Observatory – a public opening of the Tuning Score practice by a group of dancers. This is not a performance in the usual sense, but a shared moment in which one can see a dance in the making. The audience is invited to observe its own imagination at work while sharing in the secret of the decisions dancers make as they juggle between their bodies and the making of a dance together.
An open day for Tuning Scores practitioners.
A presentation by Lisa Nelson of the historical context in which her research developed.
A conversation around the book in the presence of one of the translators.
A video game salon developed by Lisa Nelson and Contredanse, as well as a presentation of applications of the Tuning Scores proposed by numerous artists and researchers.
Calendar
Thursday 8 October 2026
10:00–17:00 Jouer aux Tuning Scores – une pratique partagée [Playing the Tuning Scores – a shared practice]
Atelier de Paris, 2 Route du Champ de Manœuvre, 75012 Paris
This day is intended for anyone with experience of the Tuning Score, as an opportunity to come together for a collective practice. Facilitated by Baptiste Andrien, Stéphanie Auberville, Franck Beaubois, Claude Boillet, Florence Corin, Pascale Gille, and Lisa Nelson.
Registration required – limited places – in EN and FR
Friday 9 October 2026
18:30 Ouvrir le Tuning Score [Opening the Tuning Score]
Atelier de Paris, 2 Route du Champ de Manœuvre, 75012 Paris
An Observatory & Lisa Nelson – Historical context and presentation of the book Vivre dans la composition – De la danse comme façon de voir, une introduction aux Tuning Scores [Living in Composition – On Dance as a Way of Seeing, an Introduction to the Tuning Scores] (Éditions Contredanse, 2026).
Free admission – reservation required – in EN and FR
Saturday 10 October 2026
Atelier de Paris, 2 Route du Champ de Manœuvre, 75012 Paris
14:00–18:30 Cultiver les Tuning [Cultivating the Tuning]
Dedicated to presentations and projects around the Tuning Scores:
· Touché & Re.Dancing – Game salon with Baptiste Andrien, Florence Corin, and Lisa Nelson
· Conversations and archives with The Tune of Talking: Conversations in Vermont by Myriam Van Imschoot, and STORE with Claude Boillet
· TuneZoom – an online Observatory with guests
· Heritage and transmission with Replays by Anouk Llaurens, La sensation est l’image by Pascale Gille, and a discussion with the audience
Free admission – reservation required – in FR (with some EN)
20:30 Un Observatoire [An Observatory]
Free admission – reservation required
Friday 16 October 2026
18:30 Ouvrir le Tuning Score [Opening the Tuning Score]
La Raffinerie, 21 Rue de Manchester, 1080 Brussels
An Observatory & Lisa Nelson – Historical context and presentation of the book Vivre dans la composition – De la danse comme façon de voir, une introduction aux Tuning Scores [Living in Composition – On Dance as a Way of Seeing, an Introduction to the Tuning Scores](Éditions Contredanse, 2026). Followed by drinks and a game salon.
Free admission – reservation required – in EN and FR
Saturday 17 October 2026
Tictac Art Centre, 34 Rue Émile Carpentier, 1070 Brussels
18:30 Un Observatoire [An Observatory]
All day, 11:00–22:00: Re.Dancing, an interactive video installation developed by Baptiste Andrien and Florence Corin for Contredanse and Lisa Nelson, inviting participants to play with the temporal plasticity of video clips.
Reservation required
Organised by Contredanse, in partnership with Atelier de Paris, Charleroi danse, and Tictac Art Centre, with the support of the Centre National de la Danse (Pantin), Villa Albertine and Albertine Foundation through the FUSED program.
