On April 28, 2023, the Regroupement québécois de la danse (RQD) and the dance community celebrated International Dance Day (IDD) at the Atrium of Les Grands Ballets Canadiens. More together than ever, the event brought together nearly 90 people from all walks of life to celebrate dance.
This year, the RQD chose to deliver a message of solidarity with the theme Dance as a symbol of life, which was presented in the form of a video directed by Damian Siqueiros and choreographed by Kyra Jean Green in collaboration with Nasim Lootij and the performers.
Before the unveiling, RQD Executive Director Nadine Medawar gave a powerful speech, reminding us of the value of solidarity in the dance community. She emphasized the resilience and collective intelligence of the community, while acknowledging the fears that have sometimes shaded the collective. She encouraged the sector not to let external challenges drive it apart and to continue to fight for its art.
The screening was followed by a speech by the filmmaker and the choreographers of the message to share their inspiration and support for those who love dance passionately. Performers Janelle Hacault, Emmanuelle Martin, Marco Edouard, Elahe Moonesi, Professor Word and Simin Ahari were also present for this moment of celebration.
Nadine Medawar, directrice générale du RQD
Artistes signataires de la JID
Nasim Lootij, Chorégraphe et interprète
Artistes signataires du message la JID 2023 : Elahe Moonesi, Max Machado, Simin Ahar
Dévoilement du message québécois de la JID
The evening concluded with the Ultraviolet show presented at Théâtre Maisonneuve of Place des Arts thanks to the generosity of Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, a great opportunity to thank the community for their precious presence at this time. The RQD is proud to be able to bring the dance community together to celebrate this essential art.
Iranian interpreters from the message speak out
To amplify the message, three Iranian signatory artists expressed themselves freely in an interview directed by Damian Siqueiros. This interview is divided into 3 parts and features the heartfelt testimonies of Nasim Lootij, Elahe Moonesi and Kiasa Nazeran.
At the invitation of the Regroupement québécois de la danse (RQD), ten artists deliver a message of solidarity to free the expression of the body and claim this right for dance professionals everywhere on International Dance Day.
Québec message for International Dance Day featuring Nasim Lootij, Elahé Moonesi, Thibault Rajaofetra, Lakeysha Lyrykz Desmond, Diana León, Janelle Hacault, Kiasa Nazeran, Emmanuelle Martin, Marco Edouard, and José Flores, choreographed by Kyra Jean Green and Nasim Lootij, directed by Damian Siqueiros, filmed by Max Machado, and produced by the Regroupement québécois de la danse.
Celebrating dance as a symbol of life is the message from Québec in 2023. This campaign pays tribute to and draws inspiration from videos of Iranian artists using dance as a means of resistance and protest, despite the fact that this art form is forbidden in their lives. Dance brings us together and reflects who we are. It belongs to everyone and anyone can claim it. This video is a love letter and a message of support to those who passionately love dance and risk everything to practice it.
“Dance is in my veins […] The youth in this movement celebrate life through dance.” Nasim Lootij
“As I slide down the rough black rocks like pure liquid gold, I feel like I can overcome any obstacle with my dance.” Elahé Moonesi
“It allows me to keep my creativity moving, that’s what dance is for me : My creativity engine.”Thibault Rajaofetra
“Languages passed down through time & sound, spoken through the physical body, pulling from our experiences (Life), giving us somehow a sense of balance within our imbalances. To Dance Freely & Unapologetically Is To Defy Gravity With The Forces Of Nature.”Lakeysha Lyrykz Desmond
“Dance is what reminds me who I am, it is my home, my source of peace.”Diana León
“At the age of 9, I stepped into a theatre and knew I was home.”Janelle Hacault
“Dance is the outpouring, the eruption of the forces of life. Whereas a religious totalitarianism, fanatical and obscure, it is the reign of the forces of the death. It is thus the fight between the forces of life and the forces of death.”Kiasa Nazeran
“Dance aligns my being: it vibrates my soul, my body and my spirit as a whole with Nature.”Emmanuelle Martin
“For me, dance is an art where everyone can speak freely and understand each other, regardless of the language barrier that may separate us.”Marco Edouard
Multidisciplinary Artist for impact Damian Siqueiros uses art to create positive narratives about the future that lead to healing social and ecological environments. His current project, Terra Sapiens, focuses on representing viable positive futures that stem from the convergence of science, traditional indigenous knowledge, philosophy, art and design. He approaches social and ecological challenges looking for solutions through a synergetic approach. Siqueiros’ has 20 years of career and multidisciplinary practice: photography, expanded film, art direction and art education. He has exhibited internationally including at the Carrousel du Louvre, the Frost Museum, Mexico, South Korea, Canada, and New York.
Kyra Jean Green is a Canadian- American artist born abroad in France, raised in Florida, and currently residing in Montreal, Canada. She obtained her BFA in dance from The Juilliard School in 2006.. After ten years of working as a dancer in 2017, Kyra decided it was time to create her own company which she named Trip The Light Fantastic. The company involves dancers, visual artists, and filmmakers based in the Montreal community. The company’s movement language combines contemporary and urban styles as well as structured improvisation. Trip The Light Fantastic dives toward the harsh realities of the individual psyche and the social stigmas that prevent us from reaching our own true liberation. These questions are asked through dance and mixed media in order to inspire positive change in our society. The company made its debut in September 2017 at the Festival Quartiers Danses in Montreal Canada and has since performed in Panama, Denmark, New York, and Portugal. The company in 2021 was invited to participate in C2 as the in-house dance company.
Max Machado is a versatile cinematographer who moved a bit around the globe before finding home in Montreal, QC, Canada. He is passionate about creating meaningful, unique and powerful content through fiction films, documentary projects, music videos, art pieces, branded content and commercials. He has shot projects in North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East and is ready for travelling abroad and working with English, French, Portuguese, Spanish or Galician speaking crews.His work has been showcased at CBC, PBS, SXSW, Camerimage, TIFF, Slamdance, Vimeo Staff Picks, Canadian Society of Cinematographers Awards, Canadian Screen Awards, Global News, IDFA, RIDM, DOC NYC, Fantasia, Raindance, Ann Arbor FF, Atlanta FF, Regard, It’s All True, FCVQ, VIFF, Clermont-Ferrand, Nouveau Cinéma, RVQC, Newark IFF, and many more.
Revolting against the prohibitions imposed by the current Iranian regime on all forms of art, especially dance, Nasim Lootij, choreographer and performer, left Iran in 2006. After arriving in Paris, she completed her studies in contemporary dance at the University of Paris 8, at the RIDC and at the Jean Wiener Conservatory before specializing in Laban notation at the CNSMDP. She has also collaborated with several French choreographers, such as Odile Duboc, Christine Gérard, Natalie Pernette, Dominique Dupuy, Alban Richard, Cecile Loyer and Nawel Oulad and has created two pieces: Lalaï (2012) and Bouyé Jouyé Mouliân (2015). Since 2016, she lives and works in Montreal where she co-founded the collective Vâtchik Danse with playwright Kiasa Nazeran. In their creations, they are often inspired by the art and history of Iran, current political issues and German expressionism. Their creations: Moi-Me-Man (2017), La Chute (2019), L’Inconsistance (In progress), Espace Politique (In progress). Nasim has also choreographed dance scenes for two films and a play: ‘Damascus Dreams’ (2019), ‘Nowhere Land’ (2020) and ‘Black Baloon’ (2020). As a performer, she has danced for France Joffrey (2016), Su Feh Lee (2017), Amplement Danse (2021-2023), Kondition Pluriel (2021-22) and Amour Amour (Ongoing) . She has also collaborated with two dance institutions, Fondation Jean Pierre Perreault and RQD (board member) and has given dance workshops at MAI and Studio BIZZ.
She started her profession in 2001 and graduated from Sooreh University in 2004 with her BA in Theatre directing. Due to her passion for contemporary dance, over many years she has done extensive research on its different techniques and styles, and has participated in different European workshops and courses to broaden her knowledge in the field. She has contributed to the development and the progress of contemporary dance in Iran through many plays that she has directed, choreographed and danced in.
KIASA NAZERAN
Due to the hardening of political conditions, Kiasa Nazeran was forced to abandon his profession as an actor and playwright in Iran and move to France in 2009. In Paris, he deepened his theoretical-practical knowledge of theatrical art by attending the Jacques Lecoq School, the European Academy of Body Theatre, the Sorbonne Nouvelle University and the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté University where he defended his doctoral thesis in October 2020. In order to put his knowledge of the art of dramaturgy to the test on stage, in 2016 he founded the collective Vâtchik Danse in collaboration with choreographer Nasim Lootij. Keen to re-present the political issues and culture of his home country (Iran) to Canadian audiences, he dramaturged “Moi-Me-Man” (2017) and “La Chute” (2019). Adopting an expressionist aesthetic allowed Kiasa to reveal the current anxieties of the Iranian people in these two solos. From the onset of the pandemic and seeing most global bodies unable to respond in time to the vagaries of Covid-19, Kiasa became convinced that it was time for art to address politics more seriously. This conviction gave life to “L’Inconsistance”, a choreographic duet in progress where he dances on stage with Nasim.
Raised in Montreal, Quebec, Lyrykz is a self-taught street artist who learned organically by training at home and traveling to New York to perform with other dancers in a number of styles and foundations. Teaching at various dance schools in Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec and Ontario, she made it a point to participate in every battle and community event she could, winning titles primarily in HipHop, Dancehall and Allstyles. By this time she had already become an official dancer for nightlife events, opening for artists such as Fabulous, co-choreographer for Thugli’s Sic’Em, choreographer/performer for 4U2C presented by Cirque du Soleil, weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, youth programs, etc. Lyrykz is a choreographer who does everything from opening for major artists to making music videos to coaching artists and models. Jackson 5 Opener Jazz Festival Montreal, Fabolous, Konshens, Demarco, RYMZ,Tamia Hill, Matrix L’Oreal Fusion Hairshow, Pajar CanCanada, Popcaan,Raptors Fix Yuh…
A graduate of the École de danse contemporaine de Montréal, José Flores co-founded the collective CORPUS in 2017, which notably signed the short film RESURGO. After his studies, he joined the cast of Saturday Night Fever, presented in Quebec City and Montreal. He is also part of the Mamma Mia production presented by Just for Laughs. In addition to his collaboration with Bouge de là, José works with Destins croisés, under the direction of choreographer Ismaël Mouaraki, the Compagnie Virginie Brunelle and with choreographer Harold Rhéaume (Le fils d’Adrien danse). Passionate about dance movement, José is guided by the idea that the possibilities are infinite when we trust our body’s intelligence. He wishes to continue to explore dance in all its complexity, whether as a performer, choreographer or teacher.
Janelle Hacault is a professional Filipino/French-Canadian contemporary dance artist, choreographer, teacher, actor and coach based in Montreal, QC. She is a graduate of the School of Contemporary Dancers Senior Professional Program in Winnipeg, an actress by training, and holds an Honours B.A. from the University of Winnipeg. She was co-founder of Nova Dance Collective, 6 Ricochet and co-creator of thedancepost.org. She has had the privilege of working with Nafro Dance Productions, Ming Hon, Compagnie Entitey/Jason Martin, Trip The Light Fantastic (Kyra Jean Green), Charles-Alexis Desgagnés, Morgane LeTiec, Andrea Peña, Sylvain Émard Danse, Les 7 Doigts de la Main, Wynn Holmes, Ani Taj, and Sam Pinkleton have all been nominated for Tony Awards. In 2021, she participated in the 3rd season of Revolution, created her new work at the Festival Quartiers Danses entitled Ce Moment Où… broadcast on MaTV and co-created an original musical with collaborator/musician Jeremy Walmsley entitled, Ships. In 2022, Janelle worked with Sylvain Émard Danse (SED) and 19 other dancers on the show Rhapsodie, presented by Danse Danse, performed Les Préludes (SED) in Trois-Rivières, and toured Annie : la comédie musicale (directed by Serge Denoncourt and choreographed by Wynn Holmes) in Montreal and Quebec City for Just for Laughs. In addition to performing, Janelle has a coaching practice and an online embodiment session that blends dance and meditation.
Born in Mexico City, Diana trained in dance at Estudio de Ballet Tecamachalco, the National Ballet School of Cuba and the Royal Conservatory of The Hague. She was a member of the National Dance Company of Mexico before joining Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal, where she danced between 2014 and 2019, performing repertoire by Jiří Kylián, Ohad Naharin, Jean Christophe Maillot, Stephan Thoss, Edward Clug, Didy Veldman and Uwe Scholz, among others, and touring in Colombia, France, Spain, Israel and Canada. In 2015, Diana founded the dance company Vías, which she currently co-directs with Paco Ziel, and has presented her work in renowned Mexican venues such as Teatro de la Ciudad Esperanza Iris, the National Center for the Arts and the Benito Juárez Theater; and in Canada at Montreal Arts Interculturels and Domaine Forget de Charlevoix. Since 2016, Diana has been studying vocal techniques with singer Mamselle Ruiz. She was a member of the multidisciplinary laboratory Quantum Collective and has worked as a freelance performer with Montreal choreographers such as Sylvain Émard, Anne Plamondon and Andrew Skeels.
It was after completing a degree in Special Education that Emmanuelle considered dance as a career. With a French-Reunionese mixed heritage and Indian roots, she grew up immersed in island culture where dance and music are an integral part of everyday life. Street dances such as hip-hop, Latin dances, and island dances influenced her self-taught encounter with dance. Emmanuelle holds a Bachelor’s degree in dance and received academic training in ballet and contemporary dance in France, the United States, and Canada, which allowed her to benefit from a varied and comprehensive approach to this art form.
As a choreographer, in addition to responding to choreographic commissions, she decided to invest in her own creations in 2019 after presenting the duet Angel with her younger sister with multiple disabilities, who is her source of inspiration for life, in France. She even named her company Nouena Danse in her honor. Emmanuelle has since presented her solo Encounter at the Zemmourballet and Quartiers Danses Festivals. Additionally, she presented Chimion at the Quartiers Danses and Vue Sur La Relève Festivals and received several awards. She draws her inspiration from a mix of styles, likes to deconstruct movement to deliver raw and visceral material in search of authenticity. Her new inclusive creation, Anges Lumières, in collaboration with a center for multiple disabilities in France, is progressing well.
Originally from Reunion Island, Thibault first started with hip-hop dance. Wanting to expand his knowledge in dance, he then decided to train at the Montreal School of Contemporary Dance where he graduated in 2018. Thereafter, he continues to refine his dance through various worshops. Being a member of Or pur he had the chance to work with people such as Monstapop or Cindy mc aullife. Thibault’s goal is to develop his personal dance around Hip-hop dance and the different knowledge he acquired during his training in contemporary dance.
A Hip Hop dancer at heart, he has developed his skills by learning a variety of dance styles that also includes many other genres of physical expression, such as Waving and more. Trained in many styles and performing artist, he gives a distinguished understanding of this knowledge of movement, to create a unique and effortless flow.
The Quebec Message for International Dance Day is produced by RQD with the financial support of the governments of Quebec and Canada.
This activity, conducted with the support of CAPACOA as part of the “Linked Digital Future” activity, helped pave the way for the description of the Quebec dance community. With some 570 individuals, this publication is now available to the community. For this reason, the RQD would like to invite you to come and enrich the data on dance during a guided and personalized activity.
Description:
This dynamic gathering around dance data is offered in two hands-on sessions. The session on November 16 will focus on enriching the data on artists, while the session on November 17 will focus more on the data on dance organizations and companies. This particularity allows you to deepen your own notions.
The time is organized for a quick start and an immediate application of the fundamentals for publishing information and images in Wikidata. Adding key information or adding a photo(*), all in a relaxed atmosphere. You will be able to contribute to the discoverability and influence of dance on the Web under the guidance of inspiring guides!
These two dates are open to individual members, corporate members and non-members alike, in a spirit of sharing and openness to the cultural sector. It is therefore possible to register for the date of your choice or to attend both meetings!
(*) Make sure you have the right to publish this image. The photo must be your own.
No special knowledge of Wikidata is required.
Registration required.
These sessions are produced by CAPACOA and the Regroupement Québécois de la Danse (RQD), with LaCogency as the training partner.
Enriching Data About Artists
Session on November 16 from 1:30 to 3:00 pm
An introduction, in plenary, to the functionalities of Wikidata, everyone will be able, under the supervision of the coaches, to get to grips with the input interface of Wikidata (15 minutes).
Active contribution in sub-groups to their own information or information available from the directory list for non-members. Pre-made lists to facilitate interventions will be available (75 minutes).
A dashboard as a witness of the activity. In order to sustain the enthusiasm of the group of participants, we will maintain an interactive dashboard that will track the live count of all actions produced during these two enrichment sessions (see an example here).
On Friday, October 28, 2022, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, the Regroupement québécois de la danse will hold its annual general meeting and its annual meeting at the Marché Bonsecours. The day will be held in person with the possibility of attending online to ensure the presence of everyone throughout Quebec.
Sitting on the Board of Directors of the Regroupement québécois de la danse is a unique opportunity to get involved in your community, to learn more about the major issues facing professional dance and to contribute to the search for unifying solutions for the development of the discipline. Apply so that the RQD continues to grow in all its richness and diversity!
The Board of Directors (BOD) is composed of 10 elected members and 3 co-opted members. At the next Annual General Meeting (AGM), five (5) positions will be up for election:
Three (3) in the corporate membership college;
Two (2) in the college of individual members.
It will also be an opportunity to elect the new president of the RQD from among the 10 newly elected or currently mandated Board members.
Skills sought
The RQD board of directors aims to incorporate complementary fields of expertise, provide adequate representation across various areas of practice and organizational forms, and ensure artistic, cultural, territorial and generational diversity. The RQD is searching for people with proven competencies in strategic governance, management, marketing, data management and strategy in order to support its efforts to ensure the sector’s recovery.
A tangible involvement, serving the community
The position of director requires strong values of commitment, collaboration and integrity. It also represents a significant investment of time. In concrete terms, the Board of Directors holds an average of six two-hour meetings a year, on weekdays (morning or afternoon), as well as a one-day “lac-à-l’épaule”. Furthermore, the members of the RQD’s Board of Directors are invited to sit on working committees according to their interests, expertise and availability.
How to apply?
To submit your candidacy, we encourage you to complete the form provided before October 16, 2022 so that your candidacy can be included in the mailing of the official AGM documents. In order for your application to be valid, you must be a member in good standing.
Your application must include a portrait photo (JPEG format) and a text describing:
➝ Your professional background and areas of expertise (100 words);
➝ Your motivation for getting involved in the RQD Board of Directors (150 words).
Nomination packages will be sent to members a few days before the AGM on October 28, 2022.
On the day of the AGM, each candidate will have 90 seconds (1’30) to introduce themselves to the members. Self-nominations will also be accepted during the AGM election period.
In celebration of the 20th edition of the Festival Quartiers Danses (FQD), the RQD co-organized a round table with the FQD on the notion of Care. A panel of 5 collaborators from the dance sector were invited to share their actions and/or reflexions on the subject, followed by thematic discussion workshops in which the panelists and audience participated.
Some of the questions that were discussed included: What are the challenges and obstacles to implementing the notion of Care on a daily basis? What tools could be used to integrate more Care in the dance sector? Several sharing of practices and philosophies had been done, making us realize that there should be more be more events on the subject to better equip our sector and encourage the sharing of knowledge on Care. Some propositions were made, including the creation of a list of resources to share with invited artists or employees of an organization, in order to equip them to seek trusted support with regards to their needs (ex: psychology, clinics, coaches, daycares, etc.); to create more spaces or moments that allow us to get to know each other better (to break the commercial ties); giving time for expression, also for pieces or projects to mature; taking care of the vulnerabilities of others; a bilaterality of care (ex: in creation, the dancers take as much care of the choreographer as the choreographer takes care of the dancers; in presentation, the creative team takes care of the spectators as the spectators take care of the creative team; etc).
The RQD organized 4 focus groups in September to discuss several themes and interests of our community: 1) atypical organizations, 2) development in the regions, 3) graduates, 4) diverse and underrepresented dance styles. Targeted and general invitations have been made since August and the discussions that have taken place have been very rich. They will inspire future discussions and ways to develop for this year’s Master Plan update. Here are brief summaries of ideas and observations from each focus group:
Graduating students
The main problem for students seems to be the lack of information related to the management of a dance career; “What can we expect? What will our salary be? How are we going to get contracts?” It is important for them to have training on topics around professional integration and their rights, but also to be considerably more supervised by professionals and psychologists.
It is also necessary to make the dance sector a “safe place” where people can network without “performing”, as well as to encourage a larger connection between schools so that students get to know one another more. Networking events and mentoring programs between students and professionals could be ways to help address these disparities. The RQD tested the idea of a council or graduate committee within the group or the board and the graduates present greatly encouraged it. The students and professionals that were present came from the following establishments: ESBQ, UQAM, Concordia and EDQ.
Development in the regions
Travel and accommodation costs are still hampering the bilateral relationship between large cities and more remote regions: how can this imbalance be stemmed? The payment of accommodation or travel by local companies ends up costing them dearly; namely that the RQD has already set up a possibility of transportation assistance.
There is a need to attract and retain professionals such as teachers or artists. This could be through full-time residency programs, college or university programs, to name a few examples. A stronger link between schools and broadcasters would also be a real advantage.
Finally, even if there are infrastructures in the region which must be used to their maximum, it would be essential to develop places of creation, to form partnerships with the city and to form a common front with multidisciplinary presenters. Awareness of the general public is also essential; this is, moreover, what the RQD is trying to establish with the dance promotion campaign. Thank you to the DSR for its presence and contribution!
Diverse and underrepresented dance styles
If regional representation is unequal, this is also true for the different types of dance in Quebec. According to the participants, it is important to break down barriers that may persist. Within the dance sector, curiosity about other styles of dance must be cultivated in a concrete way. So, let’s build bridges between styles, within our own sector, but also with the general public to cultivate curiosity around the various styles. There are perceptions of a lack of access to CALQ grants because the criteria seem to be oriented more towards contemporary dance. It is also possible to consider recurrent meetings between the RQD and ambassadors of each style to better transmit information from their community and ensure a better understanding of their realities. Valuing each style through RQD communications and events highlights these styles and helps promote them in Quebec. The styles present were: Classical ballet, Oriental dance, Bollywood, African dance and Swing.
Atypical organizations
Let’s not forget the gap between creating organizations and service organizations that needs to be bridged. Indeed, defining itself as a service organization seems to facilitate access to financial aid, which makes it difficult to stabilize the structures of these organizations for which the purposes and services offered are more complex and profound. A fortiori, the weight is very heavy for some of these organizations which must always increase their number of customers in order to be recognized as competitive. It would therefore be interesting to establish a different category that would respond to their realities, but also specific aid for the administration or centralization of the mutualization produced because of their structures. Mapping these atypical organizations will be of interest to the parties present in order to share it with donors.
September 16th, 2022 – The Regroupement québécois de la danse (RQD) and Circuit-Est are saddened to announce the death of Jeanne Renaud, honorary member of the Regroupement with an unparalleled artistic career.
A letter written by Claude Gosselin and signed by her son, her family, her friends and many artists attests to the legacy left by Jeanne Renaud on the dance scene.
“We regret to announce the death of our friend Jeanne Renaud, a great artist, choreographer, dancer, teacher and artistic director, who passed away on September 15 at the age of 94.
Born in Montreal on August 27, 1928, Jeanne Renaud, along with her two sisters, the late poet Thérèse Renaud and the late painter Louise Renaud, formed a sibling group of three women artists who had a profound impact on the art world in Quebec. She was also the sister of the late Louis Renaud, photographer who died in a plane crash. She was the spouse of the late Dr. Jean-Pierre Labrecque and the late photographer Ed Kostiner. She is survived by her son Sylvain Labrecque (Sophie Lebeau) – her daughter Michelle Labrecque preceded her in death -, her goddaughter Isabelle Leduc, daughter of Thérèse Renaud and Fernand Leduc, her niece Barbara Kloeppel, daughter of Louise Renaud and Francis Kloeppel, Lolly Renaud, daughter of Louis Renaud, her grandchildren Renaud and Vincent Bégin, her great-grandson Guillaume as well as many friends.
Alongside Françoise Sullivan and Françoise Riopelle, Jeanne Renaud was one of the pioneers of modern dance in Quebec. She began her dance training with Elizabeth Leese and Gérald Crevier in Montreal, then with Merce Cunningham, Hanya Holm and Mary Anthony in New York in 1946. With Françoise Sullivan, she presented her first choreographies in Montreal in 1948. An artist closely linked to the Automatistes, but a minor in 1948, she was not invited to sign the Refus global manifesto as her sisters Louise and Thérèse had done.
Jeanne Renaud lived in Paris from 1949 to 1952, where she joined Fernand Leduc and his sisters Thérèse and Louise, Jean Paul Riopelle and Françoise Lespérance-Riopelle. She taught dance and presented a show on March 3, 1950 at the American Student’s and Artists’ Center in Paris, in collaboration with painter Jean Paul Riopelle and composers Pierre Mercure and Gabriel Charpentier. In Montreal, in 1965, she presented the show Expression 65 whose great success encouraged her to found, in 1966, the Groupe de la place Royale, assisted by Peter Boneham. She was a successful choreographer, dancer and artistic director until 1972. During the 1970s and 1980s, Jeanne held several administrative and artistic positions: in 1970-1971, she was a teacher at the National Theatre School and at the Lionel-Groulx CEGEP. From 1972 to 1975, she founded and directed with Ed Kostiner Galerie III, dedicated to contemporary art; then she was an arts officer at the Canada Council for the Arts from 1975 to 1979 and at the Ministère des Affaires culturelles du Québec from 1979 to 1985, where she was Director of the Dance Section and attached to the General Management of the Conservatories of Dramatic Art in Quebec. From 1985 to 1987, she was the co-artistic director of Les Grands Ballets Canadiens with Linda Stearns. She ended her career as a professor at the Faculty of Arts at the Université du Québec à Montréal, from 1987 to 1989.
Most recently, Jeanne Renaud choreographed for director Mario Côté’s film Brèves histoires de pierres muettes (2018) and the Feldman/Renaud Project at Salle Bourgie in 2021, with dancers Louise Bédard and Marc Boivin.
Throughout her exceptional career, Jeanne has had stimulating encounters with some of the most influential Quebec artists of their time. Her track record includes more than 40 choreographies in which she helped transform dance into a contemporary artistic discipline. Her great achievements have earned her prestigious awards, including the Prix Denise-Pelletier (1989) and the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award (1995), as well as being named a member of the Order of Canada (1998) and a Companion of the Ordre des arts et des lettres du Québec (2018).
Quebec will remember Jeanne Renaud as a great pioneer of the arts and a great stimulator and mentor to many creators – the late Jean-Pierre Perreault, Sylvain Émard, Louise Bédard, Marc Boivin, and many others. As a choreographer, Jeanne Renaud has always encouraged a fruitful dialogue with visual artists by integrating into her shows creations by Françoise Sullivan, Fernand Leduc, Jean Paul Riopelle, Bruce Parsons, John Heward, among others, as well as with contemporary composers, notably Serge Garant, Gilles Tremblay and Walter Boudreau.
The influence of Jeanne Renaud on our personal and professional lives will long be remembered. We are very grateful to her.
Signed by: Her son Sylvain Labrecque. Her niece Isabelle Leduc. Her friends, Rose-Marie Arbour, Michel Batlle, Marc Boivin, Louise Bédard, Mario Côté, Sylvain Émard, Cyrille Girard, Claude Gosselin, Laurier Lacroix, Jean Logan, Pierre Pilotte, Sylvia Safdie, Danielle Sauvage, Suzanne Sauvage, Richard Simas, Françoise Sullivan, Anne Viau, René Viau.
Many other people could have joined us if we had had the time to contact them. We apologize to them.
A tribute will be paid to Jeanne Renaud in a few weeks. Parents and friends will be notified.”
Many of you have shared your digital preferences with us! Thanks to you, the Regroupement québécois de la danse (RQD) has been able to put together a program of webinars for the fall of 2022. The RQD team is pleased to offer you the RQD’s Web Tuesdays – the digital meeting place for dance!
Presented by a techno therapist from the O1 Digital Hub team, these online meetings will be an opportunity to explore a digital tool or demystify a digital concept. Rich in tips and tricks, these webinars will help you improve your web presence or improve the management of your organization on a daily basis.
We will provide you one Tuesday per month from 9 to 10 am online via our Zoom platform.
You can register now for the full set of webinars.
Discover the program without further delay!
Tuesday, September 27
Planning and Managing Your Social Networks: Tips and Tools to Effectively Promote Your Creations This Fall!
Learn more: A social media strategy always starts with clear and precise communication objectives! That’s why our techno therapist will start by reviewing the basics of a communication plan before focusing on how to translate these objectives into a social media strategy. On the agenda: tools and tips to simplify the management of your editorial calendar, your tags and more!
How to Make Myself Visible on the Web? Reminder of the Main Principles of a Discoverability Strategy!
Learn more: “Show in Quebec City this weekend”. These are keywords that Internet users sometimes type on the search engines of the web giants (GAFAM). However, there are still few recommendations for dance performances. This webinar will help you understand the mechanisms that allow Quebec’s cultural offerings to make their way onto the web. To do so, our techno therapist will review the concept of discoverability before presenting the key principles that constitute a sustainable and effective strategy!
Learn more: Airtable is a simple, customizable and easy to use tool. Often compared to an “enhanced Excel”, this solution goes far beyond by offering multiple functionalities. Discover during this webinar, the possibilities offered by this tool and, more specifically, how it can be useful in managing your contacts, automating invoices and sending your emails.
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Are you dedicated to promoting culture and highlighting the arts? Are you passionate about the world of entertainment and artistic creation? Would you like to work in culture within one of the most structuring organizations in the province and make a difference in the world of culture? Do you appreciate teamwork, openness and entrepreneurship? This position and our team are for you!
Active on the municipal, provincial and federal scenes, the Regroupement québécois de la danse (RQD) has as its mission to bring together and represent individuals and professional organizations working in the field of dance, in order to promote the advancement and influence of the choreographic art and to contribute to the improvement of the conditions of dance practice.
Proud to be the voice of dance professionals for nearly 40 years, the RQD initiates projects based on consultation and long-range interventions, such as The Master Plan for Professional Dance in Quebec.
Values of the RQD
Openness, solidarity, cooperation and inclusion are the core values promoted within the RQD.
Work conditions
Salary conditions: between $ 60,000 and $ 65,000, depending on experience
Benefits: group insurance, pension fund, show ticket reimbursement, 2 weeks of vacation during the holidays in addition to personal leave, annual summer vacation in addition to those provided for by law, flexibility in working from home and schedule management.
Work schedule: 35 hours a week or other; openness to several different scenarios
Start of contract: As soon as possible
Workplace: In-person in Montreal or remote working – flexible policy.
Brief description of the position:
Acting under the authority of and in collaboration with the general direction, the Finance and Administration Department is responsible for the financial management of the RQD, the administration of the office and the financial development of the organization. In detail:
Financial management and accounting:
Prepare and monitor budgets and advise the general direction on accounting and financial matters;
Keep a watchful eye on available grants and making recommendations for new grants to seek;
Advise the general management on financial strategies for grant applications;
Oversee the recording of all accounting data and ensure the reliability of the information in accordance with standards and policies;
Assist employees in the development and monitoring of project budgets;
Authorize all employee transactions under $1,000 that are within the established budget deemed necessary for RQD operations;
Sign checks and proof of payment (direct deposit, Access D payment, Visa);
Administer petty cash and RQD transactional sites such as PayPal and Access D;
Administer employee payroll;
Collect and transmit employer charges (DAS) to governments;
Collect and transmit employee RRSP contributions to Fondaction;
Ensure the follow-up of the cash flow;
Ensure relations with the financial institution and prepare all documentation and correspondence related to financial transactions;
Ensure the smooth running of the grant application and reporting cycle to the various levels of government;
Ensure relations with the external auditors and prepare the necessary files for the annual audit;
Prepare and analyze the general financial statements and make the necessary recommendations to the general management;
Ensure the communication of financial information to the Treasurer;
Develop and implement financial strategies, administrative and accounting practices and ensure compliance;
Establish relationships and negotiate with suppliers;
Prepare service contracts for contractors and any other type of contract required for the smooth running of RQD projects (partnership agreements, authorizations, etc.);
See to the administration of the premises and the maintenance of the computer fleet and other equipment.
Human resources management
Supervise the reception of all new human resources and ensure that the tasks required of the trainees are carried out;
Under the general direction, develop job offers;
Ensure the hiring process of the personnel: responsible for the posting; reception of the resumes; invitation of the candidates in interview and participation in the interviews, when necessary.
Administer the team’s group insurance;
Prepare agreements with personnel of all statuses;
Follow up on employee files (CVs, RRSPs, group insurance, taxation, job descriptions and performance evaluations);
Apply and follow up on the application of RQD policies and procedures (T4, RL-1, CNESST, overtime follow-up, vacation);
Provide support to the team and respond to its various requests (certification, file updates, etc.);
Develop human resources management tools and produce simple and popular documents on procedures and policies.
Administration
Provide all necessary support to the activities of the RQD Executive Committee;
Participate in the preparation of the annual report and the general assembly;
Attend Board of Directors meetings upon request, for example: during the presentation and/or adoption of financial items or related to special projects assigned to him/her;
Maintain the administrative records;
Manage the office and its operations;
Other tasks
Manage the agreement for the training class program – CNESST and follow up with interpreters, CNESST agents and CALQ.
Profile sought
University degree in administration or accounting or equivalent experience
Experience in a similar role in a not-for-profit organization
Proficiency in Office suite, Simply Accounting, and preferably FileMaker Pro
Experience in grant writing
Autonomy, thoroughness and attention to detail
Ability to work in a team environment
Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
Good organizational and planning skills
Dynamism, thoroughness and concern for work well done
Spirit of initiative
Tact and diplomacy
Knowledge of the cultural sector would be an asset
Knowledge of the dance sector would be an asset
Diversity, equity and inclusion
The RQD strongly encourages all communities to apply. All applications will be given the utmost consideration.
The RQD offices and bathroom are wheelchair accessible.
Processing of applications
Please send your letter of intent and resume to the attention of Nadine Medawar, Executive Director: nmedawar@quebecdanse.org.
We thank all applicants. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
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