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big bang dance program

BIG BANG is a 4-month dance program in contemporary dance held in Montreal

Each year, Stéphanie Decourteille, in collaboration with teachers and guest interveners, offers two programs, each lasting 4 months (around 350 hours).

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The program ensures artists' PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT by reinforcing their technical dance skills and exposing them to diverse artistic, cultural and interdisciplinary approaches. It also offers a CREATIVE RESIDENCY, providing personalized support and guidance to artists as they research and create their own work. Artists have the opportunity to present their work at a public exhibition at the end of each session. BIG BANG is a dance program open to Canadian and international artists.

Who should apply ?

This program is designed for artists of 18 years old or over with a solid background in dance, performance, circus or acting. The program is trans-disciplinary and addresses a wide range of physical and artistic practices. Whether self-taught or previously trained, this program is open to anyone with a solid technical approach to dance, mature physicality, clear understanding and ease of movement.

What are the educational objectives?

The BIG BANG team is focused on supporting artists to acquire a solid technical skills base in dance, and to open up and learn a valuable artistic, cultural and interdisciplinary approach to the body in movement. Throughout the program, artists will be confronted with their own technical and physical challenges. Meeting these challenges will allow the artist to let go gradually and naturally, and to connect fully with their body and the sensations and emotions that arise throughout the process. This element of authenticity will help the artist listen to their instincts and recognize the creative freedom and confidence in their process. Through questioning, exchange and personalized support, the artist will develop their artistic maturity and their own body signature.

Discover the artistic and creative experience of the artists who participated in BIG BANG 9. Captured through the lens of Marc-Antoine Turcotte, this video showcases the incredible journey of the program. Thanks to Marc-Antoine, the artists, and the teachers of this program.

What is the content of the program?

The BIG BANG dance program totals around 350 hours spread over 16 weeks. Each week, the training includes almost 20 hours of technical classes and workshops every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9am to 5pm. Each program includes technical dance classes (contemporary dance, contemporary ballet barre and urban dance), partnering workshops, floor work, improvisation, choreographic exploration, contact-improvisation, choreographic creation, research and writing labs, workshops in anatomy and functional body movement analysis, discussion panels and workshops addressing various subjects in the dance world.

Choregraphic laboratories & "work-in-progress" solos

An important part of the BIG BANG is devoted to research and choreographic  laboratories. The goal of these laboratories is to support each artist in order to help them to develop research work on their artistic and choreographic authenticity. At the end of each program, the artists will perform (in front of an audience), a “work-in-progress” version of their solo. A video captation will allow the artists to have quality video support so that they can share it with companies, funding organizations, etc. 

About Stéphanie Decourteille

Founder,  artistic and educational director

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Professionally trained in both ballet and contemporary dance, Stephanie Decourteille has achieved the artistic role of instructor, choreographer, dancer and artistic counsellor. Throughout her years of training and acquaintances with leading heads in the scene (Rudy Bryans, Corinne Lanselle, Bruno Agati, Manon Barbeau etc.), she defines and tirelessly reinvents her signature choreographic style. "Vertiges", her first danced solo and short dance film reasoned the recognition from her peers and fueled her international visibility. In November 2015, Stephanie left Montreal for Guadeloupe (FR) to create a new dance center. She also supports professional and amateur artists by offering master classes and weekly classes in Montreal. Since January 2018, by creating BIG BANG an intensive training in contemporary dance, Stéphanie welcomes artists who wish to improve their technical and artistic skills.

What are the dates of the next programs?

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Autumn Program

(program #12)

From August 28 to December 17, 2023

Auditions closed

 

Spring Program

(program #13)

From March 4th to June 23rd, 2024

Deadline: November 6th, 2023

Audition

Next audition

To attend spring dance program

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 Send your resume, along with a letter of intent, to info@espace-ouvert.com. Please also include a video of a dance improvisation (no longer than 2 minutes) and a video of a choreographic creation (no longer than 5 minutes) to complete your application.

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Deadline:

November 6, 2023

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What are the prices?

FEE FOR PROGRAM #13:

2 580$ (tx. incl.) 

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PAYMENT TERMS :

- Option 1: $645 before December 15, 2023 and $1,935 before March 4, 2024

- Option 2: $645 before December 15, 2023 , $645 before March 4, 2024, $645 before April 4, 2024, and $645 before May 4, 2024.

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FINANCIAL SUPPORT:

Artists, members of the RQD, can benefit from the dance training support program.

- Canadian artists can apply for a development grant from Conseil des Arts et de Lettres du Québec (CALQ) and/or the Conseil des Art du Canada (CAC).

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Team of teachers and guests speakers of a previous program

Director and contemporary dance : Stéphanie Decourteille

Coordinator: Sarah Lafortune 

Acrodanse: Nicole Jacobs and Brin Schoellkopf

Partner work: Stéphanie Decourteille and Simon Gélinas-Beauregard

Directed improvisation workshops: Stéphanie Decourteille

Multidisciplinary workshops: Mariela Borello

Choreographic workshops: Stéphanie Decourteille and Louise Michelle Jackson

Choreographic workshop: Stacey Désilier

Creation workshop: Audrey Bergeron, Bétina Szabo and Melusine Bonillo

​Ballet : Stéphanie Decourteille

​Clown: Soléne Laurin-Laliberté

Contemporary dance: Lauranne Faubert-Guay

Contemporary dance: Louise Michelle Jackson

Warm-up, prevention and strengthening: Liliane Moussa 
Essentric: Maude Desjardins

Handbalancing: Eliane Bonin

Floorwork: Victoria Mackenzie and Stéphanie Decourteille

Flow & floorwork: Charles Brécard

Hip Hop FreeStyle: Jaleesa Coligny

House: Dominique Sophie

Gaga: Sarah Gibson

Theatre: Agathe Foucault

Jumpstyle: Camille Dubé 

Lindy Hop: Alice Bourgassier and Florent Liamas

Krump: Jigsaw
Research and creation lab: Stéphanie Decourteille

LFTDCLASS : Lauri-Ann Lauzon

Acrobatics: Gisle Henriet and Jérémie Robert 

Video: Rozenn Lecompte

Voguing: Brian Mendez

Wushu: Phi Nguyen

Yoga: Sarah Buono-Fredette  

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Testimonies 

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"Big Bang is a program that offers many resources and training for artists to explore freely as they work towards developing their artistic vision. These 4 months allowed me the space to step back from the pressure to perform, to enjoy the act of taking class for pure pleasure and in the creation labs for my curiosity to run free. The cross training of disciplines was wonderful as a contemporary dancer to enhance my skills in urban styles and acro/circus training. It has given me new life as an artist that seeks to engage across disciplines. Stephanie and the team offer meaningful support and thought-provoking questions to open up the process for greater possibility. Ultimately this time allowed me to learn more about what matters and resonates with me as an artist and I am very thankful for the opportunity!"

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Alexa Bender

BIG BANG graduate  - Program 11

(Photo : Vanessa Fortin

Immerse yourself in the creative and inspiring world of the program 7 of BIG BANG through this video directed by Etienne De Durocher. Hear the stories of the artists of this program and learn how BIG BANG has impacted their lives.

Graduates program #11

23/01 to 14/05/2023

Alessia Moschettino

Alexa Bender

Amélie Albert

Constance Gadan

Danae Zeller Silva

Evane Gislard

Julianna Heft

Kiera Whitla

Léna Roth

Maëva Houck

Maya Conway

Milena Sundari Nowak

Yule Burlefinger

Zenobia Cook

Graduates program #10

29/08 to 17/12/2022

Alice Valinducq

Ambre Michel-Picque

Bowie Siu

Diane Cezard

Flora Spiga

Joshua Yates

Lorenzo Serafino

Manon Burtin 

Megan Gaudreault

Millie Brinck-Dubuc

Nicolas Sylvestre

Sarah Marie Benninghoff

Tina Donzelle

Graduates program #9

17/01 to 13/05/2022

Aicha Benchaâboune 

Angelica Zuenko 

Camélia Letendre 

Ciro Melgaço

Eva-Maria Eder

Juliette Ieva

Lisa Natalia Cabrera Lozano

Manon Serignat-Daléas

Megan LeBlanc

Myrtille Michallet 

Nicole Jacobs

Nikki Theroux

Sarah Lafortune

Solana Del Bel Belluz

Graduates program #8

23/08 to 17/12/2021

Catherine Jeannotte 

Châtelaine Côté-Rioux

Claire Cherriere

Estelle Wecking

Eva André

Fanny B. Poulin

Jacinthe Desjardins

Johanna Simon

Lola Thirard

Marie-Éve Quenneville

Nicole Jacobs

Soléne Laurin-Laliberté

Sarah Lafortune

Rachelle Alexandra Fleury

Graduates program #7

25/01 to 21/05/2021

Amandine Boulineau Pillet

Anna-Maude Lamontagne

Audrey Sargent

Antonin Desmarais

Cachou Trudel-Langevin

Camille Mougenot

Camille Scully

Gabriela Jovian-Mazon

Laura Borello Bellemare

​Laurie Gaudichon

Marianne Mercier-Dulac

Samuel Terzis

Sarah Lafortune

Shania Leblanc

Graduates program #6

24/08 to 18/12/2020

Anna-Maude Lamontagne

Antonin Desmarais

Audrey Sargent

Cachou Trudel-Langevin

Camille Mougenot

Camille Scully

Florine Gall

Jeanne Théroux-Laplante

Laura Borello Bellemare

Laura Perron

Marianne Mercier-Dulac

Samuel Terzis

Sarah Lafortune 

Thibault Ayrinhac

Graduates program #4

26/08 to 19/12/2019

Agathe Stopin

Emeline Descharles

Florine Gall

Guillaume Roberts-Cambron

Emeline Descharles

Jordan Brown

Julia Soares Weiss

Laila Mestari

Laurence Patenaude

Maia Thomlinson

Maryline Martias

Sadiya Lopinto

Sarah Barone

Sarah Lafortune

Graduates program #3

14/01 to 09/05/2019

Aram Dermenjian 

Etienne-St Pierre

Lauranne Faubert-Guay

Maia Thomlinson

Sophia El Iraki 

Thaïna Rosinvil

Rameez Karim

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Graduates program #2

28/08 to 16/12/2018

Camélia Letendre

Etienne-St Pierre

Lauranne Faubert-Guay

Gabriela Jovian-Mazon 

Pénélope Quevillon

Sophia El Iraki

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Graduates program #1

16/01 to 04/05/2018

Be Heintzman-Hope

Chanel Cheiban

Chelsea Chen

Shanyca Eli-Leconte

Thaïna Rosinvil 

Pénélope Quevillon

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