ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Degas's Little Dancer as emblem of dance's disappearance

opinion-review · 2026-04-23

Germana Civera's 100 Rencontres de Benoît Lachambre, staged in Montpellier, Parc de la Villette, and Montreal, posed the question: 'What is dance today?' Laurent Goumarre responds by citing Degas's La Petite Danseuse de 14 ans, asserting that dance is horror, a disappearance, a movement of exit.

Key facts

  • Germana Civera organized 100 Rencontres de Benoît Lachambre
  • The event took place in Montpellier, Parc de la Villette, and Montreal
  • The question 'What is dance today?' was raised
  • Laurent Goumarre used Degas's La Petite Danseuse de 14 ans as an example
  • Goumarre stated 'Dance is horror'
  • Dance is described as a disappearance and a movement of exit
  • The article was published in artpress in July 2003
  • The original French title is 'la danse : disparition à vue'

Entities

Artists

  • Germana Civera
  • Benoît Lachambre
  • Laurent Goumarre
  • Edgar Degas

Institutions

  • artpress

Locations

  • Montpellier
  • France
  • Parc de la Villette
  • Paris
  • Montreal
  • Canada

Sources