DANCE ME
Music by Leonard Cohen
Andonis Foniadakis, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Ihsan Rustem
Dance Me - Music by Leonard Cohen is an exclusive creation inspired by the rich and profound work of Montréal-based poet, artist and songwriter, Leonard Cohen.
Approved by Cohen during his lifetime, this riveting homage to the famed artist evokes the grand cycles of existence, as described in Cohen’s deeply reflective music and poems.
Three internationally renowned choreographers were entrusted with putting movement to Cohen’s legendary songs: Andonis Foniadakis, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa and Ihsan Rustem. Their powerful and profound choreographic world reflective of Cohen’s singular work is brought to life by Ballets Jazz Montréal’s 14 artists and the strong, bold dramaturgy of Eric Jean.
Surrounded by a team of celebrated designers, Dance Me combines scenic, visual, musical, dramaturgical, and choreographic writing to pay tribute to Montréal’s greatest ambassador. Dance, music, lighting, scenography, and videography all come together in this unforgettable show, for which Ballets Jazz Montréal has been granted exclusive dance rights for five years.
"The show is more than an illustration, more than an evocation. It allows us to internally revisit the notion of the human being and human existence, a vision of the five stages of life, all at once sensual, sensitive, carnal, and mystical, which is the watermark of Leonard Cohen's work and explains the singularity of his impact."
— Aline Apostolska, Le Métropole (Montréal, Canada)
Ideation Louis Robitaille
Dramaturgy & Stage Direction Eric Jean
Choreography Andonis Foniadakis, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa and Ihsan Rustem
Music Direction Martin Léon
Sound Design Alexis Dumais
Set & Prop Design Pierre-Etienne Locas
Set Technical Direction Alexandre Brunet
Lighting Design and Production Cédric Delorme-Bouchard and Simon Beetschen
Video Design HUB Studio - Gonzalo Soldi, Thomas Payette and Jeremy Fassio
Costume Design Philippe Dubuc
Costume Production Anne-Marie Veevaete
Assistant Stage Direction Elsa Posnic
Sound Engineer Guy Fortin
Photos Michael Slobodian & Thierry du Bois (Cosmos Images)
Promotional Video mirari
Length 80 minutes (without intermission)
Artists Alyssa Allen, Gustavo Barros, Yosmell Calderon Mejias, John Canfield, Tuti Cedeno, Astrid Dangeard, Shanna Irwin, Ausia Jones, Miu Kato, DaMond LeMonte Garner, Larissa Leung, Austin Lichty, Marcel Mejia, and Andrew Mikhaiel
Vocalist (So Long, Marianne) Astrid Dangeard
Vocalists (Hallelujah) DaMond LeMonte Garner and Astrid Dangeard