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.
The season shines a spotlight on large companies: from Ballets Jazz Montréal, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary by opening our indoor season—immediately following the JOAT International Street Dance Festival, building on last year’s huge success—to Gauthier Dance, which reimagines Swan Lake through three contemporary approaches. Between those bookends, we’ll present Jungle Book reimagined by the Akram Khan Company; Message In A Bottle by the Kate Prince Company, with a soundtrack of Sting’s greatest hits; tanzmainz with Sharon Eyal; Margie Gillis and an ensemble of 16 performers; the splendid Nederlands Dans Theater; Rhodnie Désir’s Symphonie de cœurs, featuring the Orchestre Métropolitain conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin; a beautiful discovery from Colombia, Sankofa Danzafro; and the exuberant skaters of Le Patin Libre.
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.