Dance at the Centquatre, A Cultural Powerhouse

The Paris Vignettes series features the inspired work of street photographer William “Bill” O’Such in themed installments

The 104, or Centquatre Paris, has long been on my list of places to go and things to do. Over the years, several friends suggested I check out this cultural powerhouse in the 19th arrondissement. When I saw an event posted for 11/04, I thought, “on y va” (let’s go).

Grabbing the metro 5 to Stalingrad, I stepped out into a rainy November afternoon and soon found my way to the 104. Essentially, it is a massive local cultural and activity center that hosts events, shows, and provides affordable space for artists.
After the usual inspection of my camera bag, I stepped inside and was greeted by a huge, open area — clearly an old warehouse — pulsing with energy. Climbing the stairs, I was immediately exposed to a mesmerizing array of dance.

It was a captivating spectacle: everything from various flavors of hip-hop to breakdancing, tap, ballroom, and Chinese dance. These were not casual exercises; the dancers were absolute perfectionists, repeating and refining their sequences until they achieved flawless precision. At one end of the floor, I stood mesmerized for a half-hour by a group of six rotating through their intense hip-hop routines. I tried to figure out which ones on Youtube but it was way too hard for me.

Turning the corner, I watched a couple practicing a romantic ballroom routine, saw someone orchestrating a new modern dance ensemble, and even noticed a model practicing runway moves alongside a rehearsal for Chinese folk dancers. Back in the main hall, I spotted three actors intensely practicing a murder scene — it wasn’t just dance, but a full spectrum of performing arts.

Finally, I remembered my original mission: the photo exhibit. I asked the information person where the gallery was, and they calmly informed me the event starts in the spring. Confused, I rechecked my phone and realized I did the classic American thing, even after all these years in Paris, thinking 11/04 was November 4th rather than April 11th!

But no matter. Serendipity had served up a truly wonderful alternative. If you love the electric energy of creation and the beautiful discipline of the human body in motion, you absolutely must check out the Centquatre.