Quartier Danses Brings Dance to Your ‘Hood

This week marks the 10th anniversary of the fall dance fest Quartier Danses, which aims to make contemporary dance accessible by bringing it to your hood. With local and international companies, more than 50 artists take to the stage, parks, alleys and public spaces beyond Montreal’s downtown core for the next 12 days.


Atypique-Le Collectif’s Question d’aplomb. Photo by Philippe Poirier.

This week marks the 10th anniversary of the fall dance fest Quartier Danses, which aims to make contemporary dance accessible by bringing it to your ‘hood. With local and international companies, more than 50 artists take to the stage, parks, alleys and public spaces beyond Montreal’s downtown core over the next 12 days.

The whole fest kicks off tonight with an opening party, complete with DJ and performances. Look out for new works by Manuel Roque, Dominique Porte and Céline Cassone. Sept. 12, Monument National (1182 St. Laurent), 7:30 pm.

At the Place des Festivals, Basque dance company Kukaï Konpainia presents Sorbatza, a highly physical piece that takes a Basque dance for men as inspiration. Then local group Atypique-Le Collectif, along with two musicians, occupies urban space in the afternoons along the Promenade des Artistes. Bleury and Ste-Catherine, Sept. 13-14, 12 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Over in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, just off the Promenade Ontario, drop into Place Simon Valois for a pairing of works that take to the streets. Chroniques d’une saison is a verbal-choreographic improv by EnCohorte, while Julio Hong and Sara Wiskar blend folk dance and classical ballet in Café con leche. Sept. 15-22, showtimes vary.

Then heading towards Verdun, the nomadic Bal[let] de rue elles lead the crowds through the alleys between 1st and 2nd avenue with their meandering piece Destination:Hadviennkepour. Sept. 22, 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Don’t miss the Soirée artiste émergents (Sept. 13), showcasing upcoming talent on the dance floor like Tentacle Tribe, a duo made up of Emmanuelle Lê Phan and Elon Höglund who perform When They Fall. Monument National (1182 St-Laurent), 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., $10

Apart from live performances both inside and out, check out a retrospective photography exhibit, a humourous interactive installation by Ziyian Kwan called Throwing coin squeezing soy, a dance film screening and dance workshops for kids and parents. Sept. 19, Theatre Rouge du Conservatoire (4750 Henri Julien), 6:45 p.m. ■

For the complete details, check the festival’s program.

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