Danse Danse presents

Fondation Jean-Pierre Perreault – Joe

An iconic contemporary dance piece  

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.

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.

This webcast of a video recording of the piece Joe (premiered in 1984), 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.

 “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

This archival video is presented in its vintage resolution, which is already 26 years old. The technology may have aged a little, but Joe hasn’t!

Pre-Show (2 minutes): Presentation of the work Joe. Produced by Filigrane Archives.
Film (Joe): 54 minutes
Post-Show (25 minutes): 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 in 1983 and its various revivals until 2004.

Streaming available from March 17, 00:01 am to March 23, 11:59 pm.

For information and tickets: www.placedesarts.com  514-842-2112 or 1-866-842-2112