New book uncovers archives of radical 1980s Parisian dance collective Lolita Danse

Mess, the publishing arm of Mestiza Estudio, has released a new book that delves into the ten-year journey of Lolita Danse, a performance collective established in Paris in 1981. The group, consisting of ten members—Catherine, Arnaud, Daria, Dominique, Santiago, Alain, Thierry, Eric, Marcia, and Philippe—originated from various backgrounds. They pushed the boundaries of traditional dance by creating films, records, and theatrical performances inspired by choreographer Alwin Nikolais. Utilizing montage techniques from Sergei Eisenstein, they performed in non-traditional venues and engaged audiences in pieces such as "Who Killed Lolita?". For their 1986 show "Zoospie Comedi," Christian Lacroix crafted eighty costumes. The book includes previously unpublished materials that document the collective's influence during France's cultural upheaval post-1968, with Lolita's impact still felt in modern groups like (La)Horde.