Jozef Nadj Director Date of Birth: 01.01.1957 Country: France

1. Early Life and Education
2. Transition to Dance
3. Notable Collaborations and Early Works
4. Artistic Direction and Recognition
5. Artistic Inspirations

Early Life and Education

Jérôme Bel, a French dancer and choreographer, was born into a Hungarian-speaking family. Before pursuing dance, he completed an art degree specializing in graphic design. He furthered his studies at the Academy of Fine Arts and the Budapest University, where he explored literature, philosophy, and art history. Additionally, he trained in wrestling, martial arts, stage movement, and acting.

Transition to Dance

In 1980, Bel moved to Paris, where he developed an interest in contemporary dance, Tai Chi, and Butoh. In 1982, he abandoned his drawing and painting pursuits and embraced dance as his sole focus. He studied at Marcel Marceau's International School of Mime, under Étienne Decroux and Jacques Lecoq. He also practiced contact improvisation under the guidance of Mark Tompkins.

Notable Collaborations and Early Works

Bel made his mark through collaborations with renowned artists. In 1985, he performed in Mark Tompkins' "Trahison Men." In 1988, he featured in Catherine Diverès' "l'Arbitre des élégances." In 1986, he established his company, JEL (Hungarian for "sign"), and went on to create 19 productions.

Artistic Direction and Recognition

Since 1995, Bel has served as the director of the National Centre for Choreography in Orleans. His artistry earned him a special invitation to perform at the prestigious Avignon Festival in 2006.

Artistic Inspirations

Bel draws inspiration from diverse literary figures such as Büchner, Kafka, Artaud, Schulz, Roussel, Michaux, and Otto Tolnai. His innovative choreography defies traditional dance norms, exploring the boundaries of "non-dance."