In order to promote and enhance these first encounters with live performance, the Maison de la Danse offers young audience members (from pre-school to university), teachers and group leaders various complementary and educational activities, focusing broadly on choreographic arts and more specifically on the visiting companies we welcome to our stage.

We organise workshops, led by the dancers and choreographers that we receive throughout the season, aimed at different sectors of the public. Participants have the chance to practise and explore various aspects of choreographic technique which are involved in the performance (such as relationship to the body, using rhythm and the meanings of gestures). The workshops also provide an opportunity for discussion with the artists, and for explanations about their works and their artistic approaches to choreography.

Preparatory workshops for the Jeune Public performances are available to teachers or youth leaders who have booked seats for their class or group at a matinée performance. They form a part of the educational briefing for the show and enhance the spectator’s approach to the works, the choreography and the performers. By practising with the company and sharing their work in these sessions, the teachers or youth workers are in a better position to convey ideas to the children in a way that supersedes explanations of the work. The concept of supporting young people attending performances takes on its full meaning here. In the 2009/2010 season, 180 teachers, youth workers and youth group leaders took part in 14 workshops. Also on offer are discovery workshops which aim to be an introduction and a way of raising children’s awareness of artists' varying styles, techniques and approaches. These encounters between classes, teachers and teams of performers can be the catalyst for an exploration of dance in all its diversity. In the 2009/2010 season over 300 pupils, from pre-school to university, had the opportunity to dance alongside artists.