"Meditations" represents my first choreographic meeting with John Coltrane, more precisely with his music. The topic “Meditations” of John Coltrane perspires the possession and the presence.

I worked with the dancers around the topic of “the call”, i.e. this force which crosses us literally, in spite of us, then who connects us to something of infinitely great and infinitely alleviating.

For the development of the part, I worked around the “intuitive” time (polyrythmic but structured arrhythmia) which little by little evolves to a “logical” time (structured polyrythmy) and which with final announces another “intuitive” time (polyrythmic and obsessional arrhythmia).

Space as for him is permanently lived in the idea of an original space (cosmos). Are the interpreters permanently connected with the “whole” (infinite extent, perhaps the origin of the origin? …).

The dance is an alternation of writing and improvisation.
The interpreters worked out their own dance starting from a groundwork, then made up a kind of bouquet which evolves gradually to a dance choral society.

James Carlès

James Carles is a choreographer, researcher and lecturer. He received initial training in dance and music of Africa and its Diaspora and then trained with the great names of modern dance in New York and London mainly. Since 1992, he hired an artistic and analytical approach that explores the “places junctions” between the dances, rhythms and philosophies of Africa and its Diaspora with technical and western thoughts frames. To date, his company’s directory contains more than fifty pieces of his own creation and authors like Katherine Dunham, Pearl Primus, Talley Beatty, Asadata Dafora, Geraldine Armstrong, Rick Odums, Wayne Barbaste, Carolyn Carlson, Robyn Orlin, etc.

Dancer soloist and outstanding performer, James Carles was performer and artistic collaborator for not only numerous “all music” ranging from Baroque to contemporary music, through jazz; but also choreographers such as Carolyn Carlson, Robyn Orlin, Rui Horta, Myriam Naisy, etc.

Artist associated with Astrada- Jazz In Marciac 2012-2014, research associate in the laboratory of the University LLA Créatis Jean Jaures Toulouse, James Carles is particularly invests in heritage projects for diversity and diffusion of choreographic culture. He is also founder and artistic director of the festival “Dances and Black Continents”.

Since 2016, James Carlès has made the choice to make available to the public a selection of its videos.

Two methodologies transmitted by James Carlès and recognized internationally are part of the artistic and pedagogical project of the center :

- R.E.S.E.T. : Movement techniques with multiple applications for dancers and the person: form, health, expression, creativity, physicality are the assets of this method.

- James Carlès Dance Methodology : Choreographic technique for artists and thinkers. It allows dancers to develop their awareness and mastery of movement (flow), their gesture and their infinite technical and choreographic applications.

More than 2100 students have been trained in the span of 20 years, of which :

- 40% became artists/dancers

- 10% are working in cultural administration, in distribution or production

- 40% became teachers

- 10% are working in the body and well-being professions