Jean-Pierre Perreault’s groundbreaking Joe sees new virtual life on DanceHouse's Digidance program, March 17 to 23

Percussive Canadian work was a spectacle that was ahead of its time

POST SPONSORED BY DanceHouse

Joe features 32 dancers in a large-scale, percussive spectacle. Photo by Etcheverry

Premiering in 1984, Jean-Pierre Perreault’s Joe grew to become one of the Canadian dance scene’s most iconic creations.

A spectacle featuring a company of 32 dancers dressed in heavy workboots, overcoats, and fedoras, Joe would go on to influence an entire generation of contemporary dancers.

Though it would be seen throughout Europe and the U.S., the seminal work never toured to the West Coast. But now viewers here will finally get to see it on their screens at home, from March 17 to 23 as part of DanceHouse’s new online Digidance program.

The series, which wowed arts fans with Crystal Pite’s Body and Soul last month, is as dedicated to bringing viewers new work as introducing them to landmark productions from the Canadian dance canon.

With Joe, it will offer audiences the chance to see the work of one of Canada’s most important choreographers. The late Perreault brought his vision to large-scale shows, taking on the stage design, choreography, lighting, and sound design to create a total vision.

Joe is dark yet movingly human, capturing the hopes and fears of the faceless masses. Its dancers create rhythmic variations with their boots as they clamber and struggle across a steeply raked stage, individuals occasionally freeing themselves from the constantly moving formations. Percussive and visually striking, the piece was ahead of its time, Perreault setting his figures in a vast architectural space.

Born in 1947, Perreault originally wanted to become a visual artist before turning to dance and training at Montreal’s innovative Le Groupe de la Place Royale. He later created Joe under his own company, Fondation Jean-Pierre Perreault, where he created ground-breaking work on a massive scale. He passed away in 2002.

The upcoming digital broadcast of Joe was produced in 1995 by Bernard Picard for Radio-Canada and features dancers from Perreault’s own company alongside artists from Winnipeg Contemporary Dancers and Dancemakers.

As with all Digidance presentations, the screening will be accompanied by illuminating additional content. Stay tuned after the broadcast for a short documentary film, produced by Filigrane Archives, about the creation and significance of Joe. 

Digidance is a national initiative formed in response to COVID-19 between four of Canada’s leading dance presenters: Vancouver’s DanceHouse, Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre, Ottawa’s National Arts Centre, and Montreal’s Danse Danse. This broadcast is presented in collaboration with La Fondation Jean-Pierre Perreault and Radio-Canada Archives. 

For tickets and information on Joe and Digidance, visit: dancehouse.ca.

Post sponsored by DanceHouse.