Laboratory exploring the codes of Québécois folklore
Convergence is an exploratory project in contemporary gigue and folklore directed by choreographers Philippe Meunier and Ian Yaworski. Designed for four performers, this project focuses on the dialogue between thought, voice, and body within the work, while reinterpreting the codes of Québécois folklore.
Initiated in 2021-2022, this research process culminated in a significant residency at Maison de la culture Marie-Uguay in October 2023. While the laboratory phases generated great enthusiasm, particularly during the residency’s presentations, the project concluded after this final stage due to insufficient funding to carry it through to full production. However, an extraordinary wealth of choreographic material emerged from these work sessions, inspiring future productions by Les ARCHIPELS, including Recueil and Les murs résonnent.
Convergence provided artists with a unique opportunity to redefine their perceptions of dance, gigue, folklore, and movement, while questioning notions of performance, spectacle, and group and individual dynamics. This project highlights the boundless potential of folklore as a contemporary playground where tradition and innovation intertwine in profoundly human and artistic research.
Credits
Performers in Creation : Rachel Carignan, Éva Dortélus, Geneviève Jean-Bindley, Catherine Lafleur, Andréa Niño, and Olivier Rousseau
