About Danse Danse
Danse Danse, an associate presenter at Place des Arts, invites dance lovers to discover the best of contemporary dance from here and abroad in the heart of the Quartier des spectacles.
Each season, Danse Danse presents a program of some dozen productions in the Théâtre Maisonneuve, Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier and Cinquième Salle, proudly contributing to Montréal’s international reputation as a metropolis of movement.
Since 2022, Danse Danse has coproduced a uniquely unifying event as a season opener: the JOAT International Street Dance Festival. This week-long program of free events and activities on the Place des Arts Esplanade features more than 200 artists who immerse the public in the world of street dance.
Daring, Passion, Discovery
Danse Danse brings together the great names and new voices of dance in a program that constantly seeks to push the boundaries of the artistic experience to make it ever more unexpected, surprising, and rich in discovery. Celebrating dance in all its forms and diversity, Danse Danse opens the doors of choreographic art to a wide audience and forges special connections between artists and their audiences. Since 1998, 128 dance companies from 25 countries have shared the magic of dance with more than 500,000 spectators.
In addition to its performances, Danse Danse offers a wide range of ways to experience dance: off-site activities, encounters with artists, dance workshops for the general public, school programs, and much more. These are just a few of the ways Danse Danse invites audiences to experience dance directly, and to embark on a journey to contemporary realms full of emotion and inspiration.
So that dance may continue to capture the heart of the general public!
Artistic Director's Message
Open to the wide diversity of genres and aesthetics, Danse Danse’s 26th season once again showcases an exciting array of performances. We’re delighted to welcome our audiences back to the theatre, and we invite you to join us for a series of glorious encounters with contemporary dance from six countries (Quebec and Canada, Germany, Colombia, Italy, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands), to be discovered in many different ways.
Creators from the new generation (Ausia Jones, Sofia Nappi, Anne Plamondon, Andrew Skeels) take their place alongside some of the great names in contemporary dance who have been associated with Danse Danse since its early days, including Akram Khan, Crystal Pite, Sharon Eyal and Gai Behar, Hofesh Shechter, and Marie Chouinard, featured either with their own companies or as guest choreographers. This year, more than 250 performers will appear on the stages of Théâtre Maisonneuve, Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier and the Cinquième Salle.
This 2023–2024 season invites us, more than ever, to broaden our horizons, to spend quality time together, and to appreciate the full richness of dance and the incomparable pleasure of the shared experience.
We look forward to seeing you!
Pierre Des Marais
Artistic and Executive Director
Territorial acknowledgement
Danse Danse acknowledges that we are gathered on the traditional and unceded territory of the Kanien’keha:ka Nation. We honour the continued presence of Indigenous peoples on the Tiohtiá:ke (Montreal) territory, which has long served as a meeting place for exchanges between nations. With respect for the links to the past, present and future, we thank the Indigenous peoples for reminding us of the importance of living in harmony with ourselves, with each other and with nature, and we are grateful for the opportunity to present works of living art at Tiohtiá:ke.
Danse Danse, much more than dance performances
The joy of dance can take many forms. Together with the season’s artists, Danse Danse offers you enriching experiences that are as unique as they are diverse. Through encounters with artists, talks, dance workshops, and sneak previews of works in progress, Danse Danse invites you to sample, learn about and love dance.
Meet the artists
After the Wednesday and Friday performances, you’re invited to stay in the theatre for an informal talkback session with the artistic team.
