2025/2026 SEASON UNVEILED – SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE NOW
Starting at 4 shows. Single tickets go on sale un April 24.
Thursday, March 27, 2025 - Danse Danse Blog
On Friday, March 21, 2025, at Place des Arts, Danse Danse presented Nuit, a work by Jean-Pierre Perreault performed by Compagnie de la Citadelle. That evening, it was the third time the artists had taken the stage of Théâtre Maisonneuve to perform Nuit in Montreal. But this performance was special in a very particular way… In the audience, 15 spectators weren’t watching the performance — they were listening to it.
Since 2021, Danse-Cité, in partnership with cultural presenters like Danse Danse, has been making the performing arts accessible to blind and partially sighted individuals through live audio description — a practice that consists of orally describing the visual and sensory elements of a work, allowing those with visual impairments to experience the show. A committed partner from the start, Danse Danse was the original collaborator for the audio description initiative, and Nuit is the fourth dance performance to be offered in this format.
Audio describers Caroline Charbonneau and Emmalie Ruest work full-time for five weeks to be able to describe a one-hour-and-twenty-minute show. They watch video recordings, identify key moments — lighting, movement, transitions, atmosphere — and translate dance into words. “We can’t describe everything,” Emmalie explains. “If I were to name every detail, it would take three times longer than the actual show. We must make choices and focus on what’s essential. It’s concise writing that emphasizes action verbs and uses accessible vocabulary for people who might not be familiar with dance terminology.”
An enhanced experience around the performance
While the show starts at 8 PM, the experience begins an hour earlier for this group of blind and partially sighted spectators. Danse-Cité offers a full experience: a preparatory workshop followed by a post-show talk with the artists.
But even before the workshop begins, a meaningful moment unfolds: reunion. Some participants know each other well, while others are attending for the first time. Everyone is accompanied by a person who guides them through the space — and through the experience itself. Blind participant Myra Hountondji explains: “It’s a chance to reconnect with friends and acquaintances I’ve made at these events organized by Danse-Cité. Here, I just feel like myself — valued and seen. I feel truly cared for as a person — and that means a lot to me.”
Led by the two audio describers, the pre-show workshop helps participants connect with the work. “We introduce the show, let them touch pieces of the set and costumes… We immerse them in the world of the creation,” says Caroline. Before entering the theatre, participants explore a 3D tactile model of the stage and set, along with the heavy leather boots worn by the dancers — a key element of the performance, as the pounding of feet forms the production’s soundscape. Guided by the audio describers, participants even try out some of the movements from Nuit. For Liliane Camargos, a blind spectator attending her very first dance performance, the workshop is crucial. “It changed everything for me. The describers explain the terms they’ll use to describe movement. By the time the show begins, I already know a lot. It helps me understand the work and fully enjoy the performance.”
During the show, the group sits together in a designated section of the theatre. Equipped with headphones connected to a smartphone, they can hear both the show’s soundtrack and the live audio description. A nearby team ensures their comfort and is ready to help with any technical issues.
“Attending a show with audio description makes me feel included in society. It makes me feel like a whole person, not someone on the outside,”
A meaningful impact
Watching them experience and respond to the performance with such emotion is deeply moving. Their gratitude is palpable. “Attending a show with audio description makes me feel included in society. It makes me feel like a whole person, not someone on the outside,” says loyal Danse-Cité audience member Myra. For some, access to the performing arts is a recent discovery that has transformed their cultural lives. “When I lived in Brazil, I knew about audio description for films and TV shows, but I didn’t know it existed for live performances. My husband used to describe what was happening on stage. Now I get to experience it on my own — and I want to attend every show!” shares Liliane.
That evening, these blind and partially sighted individuals fully experienced Jean-Pierre Perreault’s landmark work. Today, Danse-Cité’s audio-described performances reach around sixty people — a meaningful initiative in a province where more than 200,000 Quebecers live with visual impairments.
Experiencing dance through dance
