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.
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."
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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