They are rehearsing this Wednesday on the stage at Le Parvis. It is time for final adjustments for the dancers from Béatrice Dutrey’s dance school. By 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, they will be ready. Among them are young dancers taking their first steps on the Le Parvis stage—following in the footsteps of those before them, awestruck by the size of the performance area and, even more so, by the packed house. Other groups will take the stage in turn during an evening celebrating contemporary dance, each illustrating a different take on the theme "Je suis" (I Am), chosen by Béatrice Dutrey for her grand end-of-year gala.
It is an opportunity for parents to see their children dance on a major stage, and for the audience to witness the dedication of these young dancers as they showcase a year’s worth of contemporary dance work. It is also a chance for everyone to see some of the five pieces that won regional awards at the French Dance Federation’s *Regards Chorégraphiques Occitanie* competition in Carcassonne a few weeks ago: "Le reflet des autres" (The Reflection of Others) by a teen group, "Zorba" in the Young Adult category, and "Sous la peau du nombre" (Beneath the Skin of the Number) performed by adults. These pieces will have their final public performances at the gala before heading to Montluçon next week to compete at the national level of the *Regards Chorégraphiques*. It promises to be a spectacular show.
