Past events

21 November 2025

Performance Lighthouse Self-Portrait

Performance Lighthouse Self-Portrait, a conference-performance given by Simon Henein, 12 EPFL students and Simona Ferrar, in the context of the STI faculty “2025 School of Engineering Retreat”, at the “Millenium” in Crissier. 

Photo : Bruno Studach, EPFL

13 and 14 October 2025

Art/Science symposium – “Experimenting within the Institutional Environment”  – ENS Paris Saclay

Simon Henein and Simona Ferrar took part in the Art/Science symposium “Experimenting within the Institutional Environment”, at the Scène de recherche, ENS Paris Saclay, where they presented the Performance Lighthouse and the SHS course “Collective creation: improvised arts and engineering” IMPROGINEERING

14 June 2025 

The Body on Stage in Light of Improvisation

1-day workshop taught by S. Henein and J. Valterio at ARSENIC, as part of the “Body” module of the Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) “Dramaturgie et performance du texte”, offered by La Manufacture and the UNIL in the frame of the Continuing Education program “Formation continue UNIL-EPFL”.
 
In the neo-avant-gardes of the 1960s, the body asserted itself as a means of blurring the boundary between art and life. The art of performance (happening, event, action, participation, improvisation…) contributed to a redefinition of theatre as a “living art” that continues to this day.
 

13 June 2025

DÆNCITY – public performance at Festival Magma 2025

Students’ public performance of the DÆNCITY residency, at the Festival Magma, Sévelin 36

Photo : Mehdi Bouguerra Ezzina, Performance Lighthouse, EPFL

22 May 2025

Movement improv’ for everyone on the campus ! at Vivapoly

Movement improvisation workshop open to EPFL students and staff, within the context of Vivapoly 2025

Photo : Prudence Vanpoulle, Performance Lighthouse, EPFL

20 and 21 May

IMPROGINEERING – public performances at Arsenic

Students’ public presentations of the SHS EPFL IMPROGINEERING “Collective creation: improvised arts and engineering” course, followed by a round table with the jury, on Wednesday 21st of May 2025.

12 May 2025

DÆNCITY – public performance at the EPFL festival Les Culturelles

Students’ public performance of the DÆNCITY residency, at the EPFL festival Les Culturelles

Photo : Mehdi Bouguerra Ezzina, Performance Lighthouse, EPFL

29 April 2025

Art + Sciences Conference, Rolex Forum – EPFL

On art-science transdisciplinarity and the importance of cultural openness in engineers’ education.
 
Moderation : Julie Winz (RTS)
With Simon Henein – Nicolas Henchoz – Bénédicte Brunet – Marc r. Dusseiller
 
Video of the conference (audio only on after minute 44′)

25 April 2025

DÆNCITY – public performance at Sévelin 36

Students’ public performance of the DÆNCITY residency, at Sévelin 36

Photo : Mehdi Bouguerra Ezzina, Performance Lighthouse, EPFL

Du 22 au 25 avril 2025

DÆNCITY

A 4-day artistic residency on dance improvisation at Sévelin 36 for 32 EPFL and UNIL students, followed by 3 public performances

Photo : Mehdi Bouguerra Ezzina, Performance Lighthouse, EPFL

De mars à mai 2025

Movement Improv’ for everyone on the campus !

Movement improvisation workshop open to EPFL students and staff, every second Tuesday at lunchtime, MED hall, EPFL

Photo : Prudence Vanpoulle, Performance Lighthouse, EPFL

8 March 2025

TecLadies day

Two women students shared their EPFL experience with secondary school students thanks to the TecLadies program, on International Women’s Day.

Swiss wrestling workshop at Sévelin 36

DÆNCITY students meet at Sévelin 36, for a Swiss wrestling workshop and performance by Johanna Heusser

20 November 2024

LUNCHenPHILO – improvisation workshop

LUNCHenPHILO : Improvisation workshop given by Improgineering alumnae Marguerite Thery and Mathilde Richard with professor Simon Henein
Photo : Prudence Vanpoulle, Performance Lighthouse, EPFL

13 November 2024

LUNCHenPHILO – round table

LUNCHenPHILO with Anne-Laure Gannac : Are engineers improvisers ?
Discussion with professor Simon Henein, sociologist Alain Bovet and coordinator of the Performance Lighthouse EPFL platform, Simona Ferrar.
Photo : CDH, EPFL, Daryl Jeker

8 June 2024

Improgineering 2024 performance and presentation of the book Barefoot Academic Teaching, Théâtre Le Pommier (NE)

Public performances at Théâtre Le Pommier, Neuchâtel, of the EPFL students of the Improgineering course 2023-2024, including the vernissage of the book Barefoot Academic Teaching.

7 June 2024 

ARTS FOR TEACHING Seminar

1 June 2024

1-day workshop taught by S. Henein and J. Valterio at ARSENIC, as part of the “Body” module of the Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) “Dramaturgie et performance du texte”, offered by La Manufacture and the UNIL in the frame of the Continuing Education program “Formation continue UNIL-EPFL”.
 
In the neo-avant-gardes of the 1960s, the body asserted itself as a means of blurring the boundary between art and life. The art of performance (happening, event, action, participation, improvisation…) contributed to a redefinition of theatre as a “living art” that continues to this day.
 

21 and 22 May 2024

Public performances at ARSENIC, Lausanne, of the EPFL students of the Improgineering course