Paul-André Fortier

Choreographer

Paul-André Fortier’s talents as a creator, performer and teacher have made him one of the leading figures in Canadian contemporary dance. He discovered dance in 1973, after having taught theatre and literature, and decided to dedicate his life to this art. He joined the group Nouvelle Aire, a veritable wellspring of talent that produced a whole generation of Quebec choreographers like Ginette Laurin, Édouard Lock, Daniel Léveillé etc. Derrière la porte un mur, created in 1978, marked the beginning of a prolific and intensive career as a choreographer, confirmed by works such as Fin (1981), Pow! t’es mort (1982), the trilogy of Les Males Heures, La Tentation de la transparence, Bras de plomb (1989 to 1993), Tensions (2001), Risque (2003), and Lumière (2004). In 1981 he founded Fortier Danse-Création, then in 1986 with Daniel Jackson, Montréal Danse company, for which he provided artistic direction for three years. He joined the faculty of Université du Québec à Montréal in 1989, where he taught in the dance department until 1999. Always interested in the crossover between different generations and art forms, he regularly features young dancers in his work, as well as other artists, notably visual artists Betty Goodwin and Pierre Bruneau, composer Alain Thibault, and lighting designer John Munro. Over the course of his career, Paul-André Fortier has created 40 choreographies. He is now choreographer in residence at Cinquième Salle of Place des Arts in Montreal.

Paul-André Fortier cast Peggy Baker in his work La part des anges in 1998, and in 2000 he created a full evening work for her entitled loin, trés loin. Also in Baker's repertoire is Fortier's 1983 acclaimed work, originally created for Susan Macpherson, Non Coupable.