LE BLOCK
THE PROJECT
Moncef Zebiri took over as director of the Centre Chorégraphique National de Rillieux-la-Pape (CCNR) on July 1, 2025. His project, Le BLOCK, opens a new chapter, with hip-hop dance and urban practices acting as powerful drivers of inclusion, expression and pride in identity.
In addition to being a dance development centre supported by the French Ministry of Culture, Le BLOCK · CCNR is intended as a house open to all: local residents, dance enthusiasts and professionals from the choreographic field. As such, it hosts festive, popular events bringing together amateur projects, performances and new creations.
A CCN shared with the Rilliard·es
Beyond welcoming and introducing people to dance, the BLOCK project includes a strong participatory dimension, notably through the creation of a festive event celebrating dance in all its forms, the Fête de la Danse.
A CCN “talent factory”
BLOCK will contribute to the development of hip-hop dance education in the community with regular classes for amateurs, children and adults, and young professionals, as well as workshops, “street camps,” and more. The BLOCK aims to become a talent incubator by drawing on young people in the area to introduce them to cultural professions.
A CCN shared with artists
BLOCK will support five artistic teams over three years (Artist Associate program), La Fougue, Lignes urbaines, Compagnie Relevant, Les Alchimistes, and IAAL, who will actively participate in awareness-raising and training activities led by the CCNR. More local companies will be supported thanks to La Base, a shared production and distribution unit.
The “CCN” label was created in 1984 at the initiative of the French Ministry of Culture, in partnership with local authorities, with one clear aim: to provide choreographers with working spaces and resources to support their artistic development and the circulation of their works.
LE BLOCK
At Rillieux-la-Pape
The Centre Chorégraphique National of Rillieux-la-Pape occupies a space specifically designed and built for its activities. The new workspace, purpose-built by Parisian architects Patrick Bouchain, Loïc Julienne and Sébastien Eymard, was inaugurated in 2006, when it became the home of the company led by Maguy Marin, who had become head of CCNR in 1998.
The CCNR building is located in the heart of the district of La Velette in the new city, and boasts panoramic views of the valley around Lyon metropolitan area. The framework and flooring are made of wood, which has significant benefits: it is warm, has great acoustics, is environmentally friendly, and also gives the space its unique character. Although the building’s appearance clearly contrasts with those around it, it nonetheless integrates well into the urban landscape, rising up like a tower of dance with numerous openings to the exterior.
Closed since the 2017 fire, the CCNR has reintegrated its building after an intense relocation! Everything has been designed to strengthen the connections between the dancer-artists, the team, the audience, and the local residents. Among the new features: a renovated facade, a large opening onto the square, a completely redesigned ground floor with a bar and a studio-pit, as well as offices on the first floor. However, the work on the performance hall and the two other studios is still ongoing.

LE BLOCK
TEAM
THE BLOCK
OUTREACH PROJECTS
Le BLOCK contributes to the transmission of hip-hop dance across its territory by developing artistic and cultural education projects for a wide range of audiences: schools, associations, local residents and more.
Through the BLOCK SCHOOL, we offer classes and open trainings for amateurs, children and adults alike, as well as workshops and training sessions for current and future professionals.














