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Aug 28 Aug 31, 2025
JOAT Festival international de street dance
Battles
Festival JOAT 552x469
1 Oct 4, 2025
Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève
Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui
Ballet du Grand Theatre de Geneve - Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui - Ihsane
4 Nov 8, 2025
Hofesh Shechter Company
Hofesh Shechter
Hofesh Shechter Company Theatre of Dreams 552x469
11 Nov 15, 2025
KOMOCO
Sofia Nappi
Komoko Sofia Nappi PUPO 552x469
25 Nov 29, 2025
Côté Danse
Guillaume Côté
Cote Danse Guillaume Cote Burn Baby Burn 0 552x469
13 Jan 17, 2026
Compagnie Hervé Koubi
Hervé Koubi
Compagnie Herve Koubi Sol Invictus 0 552x469
17 Feb 21, 2026
Ballets Jazz Montréal
Jo Strømgren
Ballets Jazz Montreal Jo Stromgren Joie de vivre 552x469
Feb 27 Mar 7, 2026
(LA)HORDE Ballet national de Marseille
Marine Brutti, Jonathan Debrouwer, Arthur Harel
La Horde Ballet National de Marseille Age of Content 552x469
28 Mar 29, 2026
Vías
Diana León, Paco Ziel
VIAS Tout ce quil reste 552x469
1 Apr 4, 2026
Stephanie Lake Company
Stephanie Lake
Stephanie Lake Company Manifesto 552x469
14 Apr 18, 2026
Compagnie Virginie Brunelle
Virginie Brunelle
Compagnie Virginie Brunelle Sans quoi nous creverons 552x469
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BOLERO X aout24 repetitions à l EDCM

At the opening show of Danse Danse's 2024/2025 season, over 5,000 spectators saw BOLERO X, a creation by Shahar Binyamini that brought together 50 performers on the Théâtre Maisonneuve stage. Ballet BC's 20 artists shared the stage with 30 emerging artists and students from l'École supérieure de ballet du Québec (ESBQ), l'École de danse contemporaine de Montréal (EDCM), The School of Dance Ottawa and Vancouver's Arts Umbrella Dance. Last August, we had the opportunity to meet 27 of them, as they started their first week of rehearsals with Emily Chessa, Ballet BC dancer and Student Rehearsal Director.

It's early August 2024, the start of the school year is far off, and yet... the studios of the École de danse contemporaine de Montréal are already bubbling with activity, as 27 artists prepare to learn the choreography of BOLERO X with Ballet BC dancer Emily Chessa. Students and recent graduates are taking their first steps in this large-scale work, and aim to learn all the movements by the end of the week. While Emily Chessa will soon be back in Vancouver, the work will continue in the schools, with rehearsal coach and interpretation advisor Isabelle Poirier (EDCM).

The learning process has only just begun, and we can already see the excitement and determination in the dancers' eyes: this is the beginning of a beautiful adventure. They have 7 weeks to get ready to present BOLERO X at Danse Danse (Montreal) for 4 performances, and at the National Arts Centre (Ottawa) for 2 performances.

Répétitions aout 24

A unique opportunity

For the emerging artists, this collaboration has been an invaluable experience, an opportunity to work alongside professional dancers, to perform on large stages and to confront the artistic demands of a major work. “It's a chance to meet and see other dancers,” explains Iban Bourgoin, a student at EDCM, “We dance together every day at school, so seeing new faces, and new bodies moving is inspiring.”

During the rehearsal, the process of sharing was a natural one, and the working atmosphere was both demanding and caring. “At first, it was quite intimidating for me to share the studio with the Ballet BC dancers, as well as with my fellow students from other schools,” admits ESBQ student Anaelle Carette. “There are such talented artists for whom I have deep admiration. But these fears quickly disappear when you find yourself surrounded by people who share the same passion and show real dedication to their art.”

"This music is really something that possesses you."

Iban Bourgoin,
École de danse contemporaine de Montréal
BOLERO X aout24 repetitions

Dancing Ravel's famous Bolero

BOLERO X is a work of force and intensity that resonates with Ravel's famous Bolero: music that has been transporting audiences since 1928, and which carried these young dancers through their creative process. “You hear the same theme playing over and over throughout the piece, and each time, a layer of intensity is added. This reflects very well the approach we had as performers: each time we rehearsed the piece, we tried to dig deeper, to add a layer and find something new in the interpretation,” explains ESBQ student Tao Stone Leduc. For EDCM student Hortense Sierka, “it's a pretty strict choreography. We have to count a lot in our heads, which makes it quite robotic, but at the same time we have to move with a very animal, groovy instinct.”

A vibrant tribute to Ravel's music and an unforgettable human adventure: these shows were true moments of transmission, exchange and encounter. We have been there to see them dance in Montreal from October 2 to 5, 2024 in front of a captivated audience, and we are convinced that this project has left a deep mark, not only on stage and in the theater, but also in the hearts of all the artists who took part.

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Enjoy the 2025 Summer Festivals

Discover the major festivals lighting up summer 2025—where dance, of course, takes center stage!
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A New Season Unveiled

On March 20, 2025, Danse Danse unveiled its 2025/2026 season.
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Experiencing dance through dance

In the audience, 15 spectators weren’t watching the performance Nuit — they were listening to it.
FIFA 43e edition

43rd edition of the International Festival of Films on Art

FIFA is back for its 43rd edition in Montreal and Quebec City from March 13 to 23, 2025, in theatres and from March 21 to 30, 2025, online.