Festival d'Avignon 2026: Sung Im Her's '1 Degree Celsius' Criticized as Derivative

The 2026 Festival d'Avignon features '1 Degree Celsius', a dance piece by Korean choreographer Sung Im Her, performed from July 5-7 and 9-11 at the Cour du Lycée Saint-Joseph. The work, lasting fifty minutes, includes six dancers and references Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker's 'Phase' and Giacometti's 'Walking Men'. The critic from Inferno magazine argues that the festival's choice of a Korean choreographer trained in England and at PARTS in Belgium overlooks Korea's vibrant dance scene, including K-pop, urban dance, and the Korean National Ballet. The review describes the choreography as 'gentle', 'school-like', and lacking in originality, contrasting it with Julien Gosselin's radical work at the Palais des Papes. The critic questions the festival's 'guest language' concept, noting last year's Arabic focus also felt superficial.