Louise Bédard
| Louise Bédard | |
|---|---|
 Louise Bédard in 2008 | |
| Born |
May 26, 1955 Drummondville, Quebec |
| Nationality |
 Canada |
| Occupation | Choreographer and dancer |
Louise Bédard (born 1955) is a Canadian dancer, choreographer and teacher who has been active on the contemporary dance scene since 1983.
Biography
Louise Bédard was born in Drummondville, Quebec. She embraced dance at a relatively late age, around 1979, developing her skills as a dancer by studying with numerous teachers in many parts of the world. She progressively took on choreography while interacting with choreographers like Jean-Pierre Perreault, Paul-André Fortier, Ginette Laurin, Jeanne Renaud, Sylvain Émard and many others.
Based in Montreal, she has created most of her work through her own dance company called Louise Bédard Danse. She is also one of the founding members of Circuit-Est Centre Chorégrahique[1] and has been a guest professor at the Université du Québec à Montréal Dance Department from 2006 to 2010.
Throughout her career, she has received numerous awards such as the Jacqueline Lemieux Prize in 1983, the prestigious Prix d'Auteur des Rencontres chorégraphiques internationales de Seine-Saint-Denis in 1996 and the Jean A. Chalmers National Dance Award in 1997. More recently, she and her company were nominated as the dance finalist for the 2005 Grand Prize of the Conseil des Arts de Montréal.
Artistic approach
Her choreographic approach is strongly influenced by her own style as a dancer.
Bédard's choreography converges with her performance style, at once meticulous and infinitely subtle. Every gesture is clearly defined, from the flicker of a cheek muscle to the flexing of a fingertip. Lighting designs and sets are constructed with the same care as her movement. The works are layered; their collective impact is poignantly emotional, a revelation of delicacy and intellect.[2]
In many of her works, she has sought her inspiration in the works of various visual artists, notably Tina Modotti, Hannah Höch and Marianna Gartner.
Dance works
Solos
- Ex-Libris (2005)
- La Femme ovale (2003)
- Tragédie miniature (1999)
- Cascando (1999)
- Créature (1997)
- Cartes postales de Chimère (1996)
- Elle ne se montre qu'aux siens (1995)
- Manngärd (1992)
- Dix stations (1991)
- Quelque part (1990)
- Braise Blanche (1990)
- M'A (1989)
Duets
- Vivement dimanche (2004)
- Elles (2002)
- Te souvient-il? (2000)
- Salon des regards perdus (1992)
- À l'ombre (1989)
- Lapse (1989)
Ensemble works
- Série Solos [first version] (quartet, 2011)
- Enfin vous zestes (Finally You Are) (sextet, 2008)
- Ces silences parmi les autres (2007)
- Ce qu'il en reste (What remains) (sextet, 2005)
- Seven Ways to Tell Time (trio, 2005)
- Tanka (trio, 2000)
- Urbania Box, je n'imagine rien (sextet 1999)
- Esquisse à quatre mains pour quelques gestes inatendus (trio, 1997)
- Dans les fougères foulées du regard (sextet, 1995)
- Promenade avec Walser (sextet, 1994)
- Vierge Noire (quintet, 1993)
- Rive cour, rive jardin (quartet, 1990)
- Les Métamorphoses clandestines (quartet, 1991)
- F...électricité (trio, 1989)
Honours
- 1983 : Jacqueline Lemieux Prize
- 1996 : Prix d'Auteur - 5e Rencontres chorégraphiques internationales de Seine-Saint-Denis
- 1997 : Jean A. Chalmers National Dance Award
- 2005 : Dance Finalist - Grand Prix du Conseil des Arts de Montréal