Vertigo – AlUla Arts Festival 2026

On the occasion of the 2026 AlUla Arts Festival, Villa Hegra presented Vertigo, an in situ adaptation of Vertige, an immersive aerial performance conceived by Rachid Ouramdane, President and Director of Chaillot – Théâtre national de la Danse. Originally created in Paris with highliner Nathan Paulin and composer Christophe Chassol for the opening of the Grand Palais d’été in June 2025, the piece was reimagined in AlUla in a version specifically designed to resonate with the region’s canyons and desert landscape.

The work builds on the research conducted by Rachid Ouramdane during his residency at Villa Hegra. Performed by the acrobats and highliners of the Compagnie de Chaillot, including Nathan Paulin, and accompanied by Saudi musicians and singers, as well as children from AlUla who were introduced to movement through workshops led by Chaillot – Théâtre national de la Danse at Villa Hegra, the performance was presented on 16 January 2026 to an audience of 250.

This event was made possible with the support of Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels, a programme dedicated to the promotion of contemporary dance, as well as the International Fund of the French Ministry of Culture.