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
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
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.
Deadline:
November 6, 2023
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
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
Nicole Jacobs
Nikki Theroux
Sarah Lafortune
Solana Del Bel Belluz
Graduates program #8
23/08 to 17/12/2021
Nicole Jacobs
Soléne Laurin-Laliberté
Sarah Lafortune
Rachelle Alexandra Fleury
Graduates program #7
25/01 to 21/05/2021
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
Graduates program #2
28/08 to 16/12/2018
Camélia Letendre
Etienne-St Pierre
Lauranne Faubert-Guay
Gabriela Jovian-Mazon
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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