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Pierre Des Marais
2024
Pierre Des Marais - General and artistic Director, Danse Danse
Pierre Des Marais
For the last 27 years, the founder and artistic and executive director of Danse Danse, Pierre Des Marais, has contributed to the success of contemporary dance and helped make Montreal an international dance hotspot. As a promoter associated with Place des Arts, Danse Danse presents the best in local and international choreographic art, right in the heart of the Quartier des Spectacles. Each season, the organization presents as many as 15 works, contributing to Montreal’s international renown as a city of artistic movement. Since 1998, 207 companies from 30 countries have shared the deep emotions stirred by dance with more than 694,000 spectators.
Since 2002, under Mr. Des Marais’ leadership, Danse Danse has co-produced the JOAT International Street Dance Festival. The week-long series of free performances and activities brings together more than 200 artists on the Place des Arts Esplanade, allowing more than 30,000 spectators to immerse themselves in the world of street dance.
Danse Danse is also behind several initiatives aimed at making dance accessible to everyone: performances in the display windows of the 2-22 building, gatherings with artists, all-audiences dance workshops, school programs, live descriptive audio, modest prices and cultural mediation – all Pierre Des Marais initiatives that allow us to experience dance to the fullest.
Mr. Des Marais serves on the boards of several dance organizations: Regroupement québécois de la danse (RQD), Prix de la danse de Montréal, La Danse sur les routes du Québec (DSR) and Danse à la carte. He is also chair of the co-owners’ board for the 2-22 building, the cultural centre where Danse Danse is based.
There can be no doubt that Mr. Des Marais’ work makes a significant contribution to the cultural and artistic vitality of the Quartier des Spectacles.