FRENCH DANCE GROUPS SCHEDULED FOR L.A. FEST

Three contemporary French dance companies have been scheduled to appear during the Los Angeles Festival, Sept. 3-27, 1987, French Minister of Culture and Communications Francois Leotard and Festival Director Robert J. Fitzpatrick announced recently at a press conference at the French Embassy.

Monnier-Duroure (Mathilde Monnier and Jean-Francois Duroure) will present “Pudique Acide” and “Extasis,” set to the music of Kurt Weill, and a premiere yet to be announced. Following its festival performances, the group will tour the U.S. through the National Performance Network.

Compagnie Maguy Marin is scheduled to present three U.S. premieres: “Babel-Babel,” with music by Mahler; “May B,” set to the music of Schubert, and a new creation to be completed in December. Following the festival performances, the company will appear in the Brooklyn Academy of Music “Next Wave” festival.

In addition, the Opera Ballet of Lyon in its West Coast debut will present Maguy Marin’s “Cendrillon” (Cinderella) to the music of Prokofiev. Artistic Director Francoise Adret has also scheduled a mixed bill of ballets by young choreographers--including one by Monnier-Duroure.

“The French companies will be the centerpiece of the Festival’s dance component,” said Fitzpatrick, “because France has become one of the most interesting centers of contemporary dance activity.”

“One of the healthiest signs of French cultural vitality is the new generation of very gifted choreographers and the springing up of a host of new contemporary dance companies that are achieving international recognition,” Leotard added.