Côté Danse

Good evening everyone,

We’re thrilled to welcome back Guillaume Côté and his company Côté Danse, now recognized as a powerful voice on Canada’s contemporary dance scene. The company stands out for its dancers’ remarkable technique and an artistic vision deeply attuned to the pressing issues of our time.

After Hamlet, created in dialogue with theatre, the choreographer returns here to dance in its purest form with his new work Burn Baby, Burn. Tackling the theme of climate change, he delivers a powerful work shaped by the image of fire — a metaphor for both vital energy and a world on the brink.

On stage, nine dancers move through contrasting physical states — shifting between carefree abandon, urgency, and the sheer force of life. The result is visceral, at times deeply moving, and always charged with momentum and hope. A dance that is clear-eyed and committed, urging us to feel, to reflect… and perhaps, to act.

Thank you for joining us for this moment.

Enjoy the show!

Pierre Des Marais — Artistic and Executive Director of Danse Danse.

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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.

Welcome to our presentation of Burn Baby, Burn.

This work explores transformation through the metaphor of fire, a force that both destroys and renews in a world shaped by change. Through movement, we examine what it means to burn, to confront intensity, to surrender, and to rise from the ashes. At its heart, the piece reflects on humanity’s complex relationship with nature.

I invite you to come with open senses, to feel, to lean into discomfort, and to stay with the glow even when things become too bright or too uncertain. This is not a story with a single arc; it is a state, a ritual of motion. Let the dancers’ presence light your own interior world.

I am deeply grateful to the exceptional artists and collaborators who have poured their talent and dedication into this work. Their commitment gives it life.

Thank you for being here, for sharing this moment with us, and for allowing Burn Baby, Burn to move through you as reflection, as awakening, as hope.

With gratitude,

Guillaume Côté – Choreographer and Artistic Director, Côté Danse.

In the intricate dance that is life, there’s a prolonged performance—Burn Baby, Burn—a metaphorical invitation to never stop, where our collective actions fuel a rising global temperature. This dance mirrors humanity’s reluctance to confront climate change, that hypnotic threat laden with dire consequences.

The movement is captivating, intoxicating, and deeply moving, portraying beauty through its fiery chaos. It’s like witnessing a mesmerizing explosion—strangely beautiful and strikingly tragic.

While this fire may consume certain aspects of our civilization, it could ultimately signal a positive shift—one that forces us to recognize our harmful impact on the planet. Fire, as a symbol of passion and intensity, is woven throughout the work, reminding us of our power to bring about change—but also of the danger in letting that power spiral out of control.

Nine performers cast a spell on the audience with dynamic movement that blends raw physicality, serene delicacy, untamed exuberance, and moments of levity. Drawing on a vocabulary rooted in classical ballet, Côté’s choreography carves through space with resonant geometries and fervent human connections. Contemporary lines and shapes—clean, athletic, and refined—infuse his work with a vital energy.

Choreography Guillaume Côté. 

Creative assistant and rehearsal director Anisa Tejpar. 

Original music Amos Ben-Tal, OFFProjects. 

Costume design Yso South.  

Lighting design Simon Rossiter.  

Producer Etienne Lavigne.  

Dancers Demetri Apostolopoulos, Jessica Germano, Martha Hart, Kevin Lau, Griffen Grice, Willem Sadler, Katherine Semchuk, Evan Webb, Carleen Zouboules. 

Stage Manager Jennifer Lee.

International representation CAPAS • Label de danse. 

Burn Baby, Burn is made possible by the generous support of La Fondation Emmanuelle Gattuso.

Burn Baby, Burn was created in association with The Creative School Chrysalis and Toronto Metropolitan University.

Burn Baby, Burn is co-produced by the Festival des Arts de Saint-Sauveur.

Burn Baby, Burn was developed with support from TO Live.

Côté Danse gratefully acknowledges the support of the Ontario Arts Council.