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Meet The Artists

Danièle Desnoyers [Luc Sénécal]
“Duos pour corps et instruments” , novembre 2004 [Luc Sénécal]

Biography

Danièle Desnoyers

La Fondation Jean-Pierre Perreault / Le Carré des Lombes

(1960- )

Danièle Desnoyers graduated from the dance program at the Université du Québec à Montréal where she was in the original cast of Jean-Pierre Perreault 's Joe (1983). She later performed with La Fondation Jean-Pierre Perreault for many seasons.

Desnoyers established her own company, Le Carré des Lombes, in 1989. Her choreography often suggests a strong identification with other female artists. Her Rouges-Gorges (1989), for instance, was inspired by Margaret Atwood's novel The Handmaid's Tale. Her 1992 Ex Voto was a response to Frida Kahlo's art.

As a choreographer, Desnoyers is particularly noted for her sensitive and architectural use of space and sound, and her attention to dance as a theatrical art in her ability to blend the various components of performance into a cohesive whole in works including Du souffle de sa tourmente, j'ai vu (1994), Discordantia (1997) and Duos pour corps et instruments (2003).

In 1999, Desnoyers' company was the only Canadian group invited to appear at the Theatre Olympic Festival hosted by Japan. That same year, Desnoyers won the French Prix d'auteur du Conseil general de la Seine-Saint-Denis at Rencontres chorégraphiques internationals for her Concerto grosso pour corps et surface métallique (2000).

In 2002, Le Carré des Lombes and the National Arts Centre co-produced Bataille, a new work by Desnoyers featuring incandescent and neon lights, microphone stands, and long overcoats draped over the backs of chairs. Before the performance began, audience members were encouraged to walk through the performance space and to become part of the production by sitting in the chairs while the dancers performed.

From 2000 until 2003, Desnoyers taught and choreographed for the students at her alma mater the Université du Québec à Montréal.

Learn more:

Davida, Dena. “Danièle Desnoyers.” Encyclopedia of Theatre Dance in Canada/Encyclopédie de la Danse théâtrale au Canada. Ed. Susan Macpherson. Toronto: Dance Collection Danse Press/es, 2000: 150-151.