Joe - Fondation Jean-Pierre Perreault

An iconic contemporary dance piece  

A pivotal work by the late Jean-Pierre Perreault, Joe presents an image of the human condition that is so accurate and so moving that it remains forever imprinted in the memories of those who have seen it.  

To the sound of 32 pairs of work boots obsessively pounding the floor, 32 dancers, dressed in long coats and hats, move in a compact mass from which individuals occasionally attempt to free themselves to escape a foreordained destiny.  

 “Joe  is Perreault’s masterpiece and a prime example of the  dimension of this  talented choreographer-cumsculptor/designer/acoustics expert.”  
 The Gazette, Montreal  

“A work that has become a hallmark of contemporary Canadian dance and a masterpiece for all time.”  
Pittsburg Tribute-Review, 1996  

 Reviving the choreographic repertoire  

One of the most influential and respected contemporary dance artists in Canada, choreographer, painter and set designer Jean-Pierre Perreault (1947–2002) created works whose significant influence both at home and abroad has contributed to the growth of dance audiences.  In 1983, he wrote Joe for students in the dance department at Université du Québec à Montréal, where it was performed by 24 non-professional dancers. Starting in 1984, professional productions with as many as 32 dancers revived the piece and toured the world. The last performance was in 2004.

This webcast of a video recording of the piece  Joe , produced in 1995 by Bernard Picard  for Radio-Canada, not only pays tribute to one of Canada's greatest choreographers, but also allows the public to discover or rediscover an absolutely  breathtaking  performance that has had a profound impact on contemporary dance.  

You may enjoy this archival video in its vintage resolution, which is already 26 years old. The technology may have aged a little, but Joe hasn't!

This  Digidance  webcast is an initiative of DanceHouse (Vancouver), Danse  Danse (Montreal), Harbourfront  Centre  (Toronto),  National Arts Centre  (Ottawa) in collaboration with the  Fondation  Jean-Pierre Perreault. Thank you to  Radio-Canada Archives. 

Tickets start at $15.00