HIDDEN @ Lascaux IV

A dance performance for the origins of art, myth, and memory

In connection with the European Heritage Days, Hidden — a new dance performance honoring movement, myth, and memory — premiered on 19 September at Lascaux IV, the International Centre for Parietal Art in Montignac, France.

Created by internationally acclaimed choreographer and dancer Daniel Proietto, the work is a collaboration between the Norwegian National Ballet, Know Nation, and Snøhetta, and features principal dancer Yolanda Correa alongside Proietto.

A Performance for

Lascaux IV

Hidden was developed specifically for the monumental spaces of Lascaux IV, a centre seamlessly integrated into the landscape of the Vézère Valley, designed by Snøhetta in collaboration with SRA Architectes and scenographers Casson Mann. Opened in 2016, Lascaux IV stands as a landmark of contemporary architecture and museography, offering an immersive experience and a faithful reconstitution of the original cave and cave paintings discovered in the area in 1940.

The performance merges film, live dance, and music, unfolding across both architectural and natural environments. It evokes a ritual space filled with presence and ancestral memory, where movement becomes a vessel for timeless expression.

"Around 17,000 years ago, humans gathered at Lascaux in reverence, not to conquer, but to carve their dreams into stone," says Proietto. "They understood something we are still trying to remember: that making a mark is not an act of power, but an act of belonging. Hidden honors their efforts and asks what kind of ancestors we are becoming."

Through the Labyrinth

The performance journeys through the labyrinthine spaces of Lascaux IV, guided by the shadowy figure of the Minotaur, whose mask serves as a bridge between human and mythic forces. Dances inspired by prehistoric rites unfold in flickering light, bringing the cave walls to life and conjuring the presence of the unseen. In this setting, cave art is reimagined as the first cinematic act — a primal fusion of image, movement, and ritual.

"Bringing dance to Lascaux IV, at the heart of prehistoric art, is a profound honour for the Norwegian National Ballet," says Ingrid Lorentzen, Artistic Director at the Norwegian National Ballet. "This collaboration reminds us that art and movement have always been part of our shared human identity. Once again, Snøhetta unites nature and culture — as they did with our own opera house and so many other iconic projects. In the meeting between the ancient and the contemporary, a deep resonance emerges, and we are proud to contribute a choreographic work that explores this intersection — created by Daniel Proietto and performed by him alongside our principal dancer Yolanda Correa."

Music as Offering

Hidden's vision of art as presence and offering is elevated by the collaboration with Tana Quartet, performing music by Belgian composer Jean-Paul Dessy, whose work blends contemporary classical language with a spiritual dimension.

Ritual, Not Spectacle

The performance resists spectacle in favor of ritual and remembrance, returning dance to its ancient roots as a space of listening, embodied time, and ethical reflection. It explores themes of life and mortality through the bodies of Correa and Proietto, inviting audiences to contemplate what endures, what must be reclaimed, and what we carry forward.

"Dance is the most beautiful expression of human movement — it is poetry and body in one," says Kjetil Trædal Thorsen, Founding Partner of Snøhetta, who first proposed the idea for the performance. "When performed within a physical space, a magical connection emerges between the audience, the dancer, and the surroundings. To honor the history and myths of Lascaux, we invited the Norwegian National Ballet and choreographer Daniel Proietto to interpret the spaces through dance. The result is a magnificent artistic performance by Proietto and Yolanda Correa, adding a completely new dimension to experiencing the wonder and history of Lascaux and the stories painted on its walls."

From the Cave to the Screen

The complete conception and creation of the work were developed by Daniel Proietto in close dialogue with the Norwegian National Opera & Ballet, Know Nation, and Snøhetta. All photography and film were created by OiOiOi at Lascaux IV.

While Hidden was performed live at Lascaux IV, a short teaser premiered on social media through the accounts of the Norwegian National Ballet & Opera, Know Nation, and Snøhetta. Hidden was also performed live during the opening of the Artonov Festival in Brussels on October 3rd.

A full-length version of the performance will be available soon on KNOW NATION.

Credits

Performers: Yolanda Correa, Daniel Proietto Choreography & Costumes: Daniel Proietto Music: Jean-Paul Dessy, performed by Tana Quartet
Film & Photography: OiOiOi Produced by: Know Nation, Snøhetta, Norwegian National Opera & Ballet, Lascaux IV