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
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!
DETAILED PROGRAM
PRE-SHOW (2 minutes)
Presentation of the work Joe. Produced by Filigrane Archives.
FILM JOE (54 minutes)
POST-SHOW (25 minutes)
Joe: together, yesterday and now
An incursion into the heart of a masterpiece by choreographer Jean-Pierre Perreault. Ten artists from different generations tell their experience with this dance icon, its original creation at the UQAM in 1983 and its various revivals until 2004. Produced by Filigrane Archives.
This Digidance webcast is an initiative of DanceHouse (Vancouver), Danse Danse (Montreal), Harbourfront Centre (Toronto), and National Arts Centre (Ottawa). In collaboration with the Fondation Jean-Pierre Perreault. Thank you to Radio-Canada Archives.
By buying an access you obtain a streaming link valid between March 17 and 23, 2021 at the time of your choosing.
Tickets start at $15.00
Photo © Michael Slobodian.
Jean-Pierre Perreault (1947-2002), one of the most important Canadian choreographers and winner of several prestigious national awards, is recognized for his global conception of his works. Perreault is known for works such as Rodolphe (1983), Joe (1984), Stella (1985), Nuit (1986), Flykt (1991), created for the Ballet Cullberg, Adieux (1993), La vita (1993), Les années de pèlerinage (1995), Eironos (1996), L’exil, l’...
Read more about Jean-Pierre PerreaultThe Fondation Jean-Pierre Perreault (FJPP) is an internationally renowned dance creation company founded by the late Jean-Pierre Perreault. In the early 2000s, it became the first dance organization in Quebec to own its own creative space: Espace chorégraphique.
Today the FJPP is devoted to documenting and transmitting Quebec’s contemporary dance heritage while encouraging reflection on the creation and promotion of chore...
Read more about Fondation Jean-Pierre PerreaultA choreography by Jean-Pierre Perreault.
Produced by the Fondation Jean-Pierre Perreault.
Choreography, set design, costumes Jean-Pierre Perreault.
Dancers Michel Boisclair, Christine Charles, Carmen Chevalier, Michael English, Claude Godbout, Brigitte Gonthier, Marie-Andrée Gougeon, Sylviane Martineau, Jean-Pierre Mondor, Maya Ostrofofsky, Luc Ouellette, David Rose, Mark Shaub, Daniel Soulières, Yves St-Pierre, Suzanne Trépanier, Gaétan Verret.
With the participation of the Winnipeg Contemporary Dancers Tom Casey, Christopher Gower, Bonnie Kim, Carol Prieur, Alana Shewchuk, Tom Stroud, Olivia Thorvaldson, Dans Wild; and the dancers from Dancemakers Julia Aplin, Marie-Josée Chartier, Ken Cunningham, Julia Sasso, Gary Tai, Gerry Trentham, Carolyn Woods.
Rehearsals Ginelle Chagnon.
Fondation Jean-Pierre Perreault Production Director Richard Mayrand.
Film directed by Bernard Picard.
Production Société Radio-Canada © 1995.