2020-06-03
 
Cette section est réservée aux membres du RQD

Economic Recovery Plan For The Cultural Sector: First Steps For Dance

Economic Recovery Plan For The Cultural Sector: First Steps For Dance

Montréal, Tuesday, June 2, 2020 – The economic recovery plan for the cultural sector, unveiled yesterday by Minister Nathalie Roy, opens up a few prospects for recovery in dance while leaving many questions and concerns unanswered. The Regroupement québécois de la danse (RQD) applauds some of these initial measures, emphasizing that they need to be followed by substantial investments in order to ensure the survival and successful recovery of the dance sector.  The sector covered by the RQD is an extremely precarious one and has been particularly weakened by this crisis and our main concern is the support being offered to independent artists, self-employed workers and small organizations.

Among the encouraging components of the Ministry of Culture and Communications (MCC) plan is the support for productions in new venues adapted to the context of physical distancing, such as walking tours and other outdoor shows, as well as support for the simultaneous presentation of shows in several venues and online, which some companies are considering already. Funding for rental of spaces and remuneration of artists during their training is also excellent news, considering a dancers’ essential requirement is to sustain their physical condition in order to be ready for a revival. Support for alternative and private venues to promote the next generation of dancers provides a much-needed boost to the sector, but the MCC must not forget that in dance, many intermediate and even established artists and companies are still working in unstable situations. Monies being made available to document the effects of the pandemic on the cultural sector and to support real estate and equipment acquisition projects is also reassuring.

However, this first phase of the MCC’s economic recovery plan gives the best benefits to the arts industries, particularly the audiovisual and film industries, major events and digital distribution. But the RQD fears heavy losses in the dance sector, which is made up largely of self-employed workers and project-funded organizations. For example, of the $400 million announced by the MCC, of which $250 million is new money, only $6.5 million is allocated to increasing funds for  grant programs and an emergency fund for artists who are currently being supported by the Canadian Emergency Relief Benefit (CERB).

“Many artists may not have access to this new emergency fund, which we are told will be managed by the Union des artistes and the Musicians Guild and reserved for extreme situations,” says artist and teacher Jamie Wright, co-chair of the RQD. “What will happen to all the performers who will not get contracts because most of the work will be produced with fewer dancers? And what will happen to all the artistic and technical collaborators who won’t have jobs?”

“We must also find a way to stabilize small organizations,” adds choreographer-manager Lük Fleury, co-chair of the RQD. “Otherwise, when the time comes to revive them, they won’t be solid enough to resume their activities. Amongst these organizations, as well as among the self-employed, (who will soon be ineligible for the social safety net of the CERB), there are many individuals belonging to other artist representation groups. It would be a shame if all the inclusion efforts made in recent years by the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec were wasted.”

The possibility that venues will reopen by St. Jean Baptiste Day also makes the investment in arts promotion particularly welcome. This will be necessary in order to encourage an audience faced with the fear of contagion and the overabundance of supply, to participate.  But beyond the promotion of Quebec cultural products, the RQD is calling on the government to jumpstart a campaign that promotes the arts, including the human body and dance, which will extol all their benefits and ultimately transform the perception of the arts by the general public.

Finally, dance will undoubtedly benefit from the $20 million allocated to digital projects of all kinds, with a strong emphasis on the dissemination of works and events online. However, it will not be enough. The tradition of this living art form is still possible; all that is missing is the funding to give artists time to think about the myriad characteristics it could take on in times of a pandemic.

The RQD

The Regroupement québécois de la danse brings together and represents professional individuals and organizations working in dance, with the aim of promoting the advancement and influence of the art of choreography and contributing to the improvement of conditions for dance practice.

 

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Source:
Coralie Muroni
Director of Communications
Regroupement québécois de la danse
cmuroni@quebecdanse.org

Québec Message for International Dance Day 2020 from Janie & Marcio

At the invitation of the Regroupement québécois de la danse (RQD), Janie Richard and Márcio Vinícius Paulino Silveira have delivered a unifying message for International Dance Day 2020. Adapting to physical distancing measures aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19, the duo – winners of Season 2 of the show Révolution – invited numerous artists and dance lovers to contribute to a video in which each participant dances from the confines of their home in an effort to connect with others.

Some 100 Quebecers of all ages and from all horizons took part in this joint project by filming themselves at home, alone or with their families. Artist and filmmaker Bobby León stitched together their free, expressive, nostalgic and joyful dances, and the result is a moving dialogue that emphasizes the extent to which dance is expressive, accessible and without borders.

Québec Message for International Dance Day 2020
By Janie Richard and Márcio Vinícius Paulino Silveira

Dance embodies multitudes. Now art, now sport, it is enriched by 1,001 styles, from classical to swing, salsa, vogue and breakdance. Each possesses its own steps, movements and colours, in the same way that each language has its own words, idioms and accents. But that’s where the comparison ends, as there are no language barriers in dance. A choreography speaks to us and touches us, and we grow through it, even if we don’t quite understand all its subtleties, codes and secrets. 

Dance holds the power to transcend our differences and bring us together, as it draws on a form of communication accessible to everyone: universal communication conveyed through the body. Regardless of whom we are dancing with and where, be it on a stage or a television set, in a kitchen, at a family party or with friends, we can all feel its energy coursing through our veins and reaching into our hearts. This real, fabulously contagious energy unifies us and makes us feel good.

Dance also gives us a unique opportunity to express our dreams and desires, even those we dare not say aloud. In this sense, it is the language of freedom. Let us dance when we feel sadness or uncertainty, therefore. Let us dance when we’re happy, when we feel inspired and want to inspire others. Let us dance so we can better understand, feel connected to, and love one another. Let us dance for the sheer pleasure of doing so. 

Because when we dance, we are absolutely and marvellously authentic.

 © Sasha Onyshchenko/Kravetz photographics

Janie Richard
Janie grew up in Terrebonne and was trained at the École supérieure de ballet du Québec. During the course of her career, she has worked with world-renowned choreographers and with such companies as the Atlantic Ballet of Canada, the Grands Ballets Canadiens and the Gran Canaria Ballet of Spain. Ms. Richard is currently working as an independent dancer. She is also a choreographer and a teacher, and she serves as a judge at local and international dance competitions. ► Biography (French only)

 © Sasha Onyshchenko/Kravetz photographics

Márcio Vinícius Paulino Silveira
Brazil native Márcio Vinícius Paulino Silveira was trained at the Bolshoi Theatre School. Since moving to Québec in 2010, Márcio has danced for La La La Human Steps, EzDanza, the Ballets Jazz de Montréal, Ballet Ouest and Andrea Peña & Artists. Overall, he has performed in no fewer than 24 countries alongside numerous choreographers, including Édouard Lock, Vladimir Vasiliev, Rodrigo Pederneiras, Victor Quijada, Cayetano Soto, Barak Marshall, Itzik Galili, Stéphane Boko and Jomar Mesquita. He has also created choreographies for Cirque du Soleil and the Opéra de Québec. ► Biography

Source
Coralie Muroni, Communications Director, cmuroni@quebecdanse.org