From April 16 to 28, 2013 Paris will host a unique festival that is the result of a combination of hip hop and contemporary circus. The festival is called Hautes Tensions, French for High Tension, and it is celebrating its third year on the Parisian scene this spring.
Both hip hip and circus arts represent two cultures that are in the midst of constant renewal and reinvention. As a result, it seems only natural to combine these two art forms that express the voices of the future, in ways that are radical yet socially bonding. For two weeks in April, guests staying at the Hôtel Louvre Marsollier will have the chance to experience this innovative fusion as performers come to present spectacles that have never been seen before — some being created especially for the Festival Hautes Tensions.
The festival is taking place at the Parc de la Villette, an eclectic cultural center located in the 19th arrondissement of Paris. The third edition of the festival will offer an even bigger place to hip hop, as choreography spectacles and the the very first French championship of parkour are organized for festival-goers.
Parkour is an urban sport that was developed in France but has been an international pop culture sensation after being featured in many films and television shows. Now, this sport that mixes dance, acrobatics and pure athletic force will reveal the best young performers on the scene today at the first championship to be organized in France.
Roughly 20 circus and hip hop troupes will be participating in the Festival Hautes Tensions, enabling spectators to get their fill of circus arts, contemporary dance, break dance and novelty acts. At the Parc de Villette, a center known for its contribution to contemporary arts and up-and-coming talent, visitors to Paris can explore the exciting interactions between these various types of performances.
Parc de la Villette
211 avenue Jean Jaurès, 75019
+33 (0)1 40 03 75 75
