Saint-Sauveur Arts Festival | Culture in the spotlight in the Laurentians

Once again this year, the Festival des arts de Saint-Sauveur (FASS) offers a rich program under the sign of dance and music, which will take place from July 28 to August 7. Here are five events not to be missed.

Iris Gagnon Paradise
The Press

see stars

The FASS opens with its traditional International Star Party, where high-level artists from here and abroad will perform on stage on July 28 (sold out) and July 29, performing in particular the most famous pas de deux from the classical, neoclassical and contemporary repertoires. Among them, Cesar Corrales and Francesca Hayward (Royal Ballet), Sebastian Vinet, Maude Sabourin and Melih Mertel (Les Grands Ballets), Sara Mearns (New York City Ballet), Cassandra Trenary and Thomas Foster (American Ballet Theatre), Lazaro Corrales ( Royal Danish Ballet), as well as the festival’s artistic director and talented performer Guillaume Côté. The latter will also present his new creation CryptoAugust 4.

Big visit

The Israeli Vertigo Dance Company has been around for over 30 years. She will be visiting Saint-Sauveur for the very first time on July 31 with her acclaimed play One. One&One, a creation by its artistic director Noa Wertheim on a score for strings and voice by Avi Belleti. On a ground covered with earth, 10 dancers aspire to remain whole in a fragmented reality. An immersive sensory experience that explores both exterior and interior territories.

Two creators from here reunited

For the first time, Virginie Brunelle and Anne Plamondon are reunited for an evening for a double program, presented on August 3. The two talented choreographers will each present a creation for 10 dancers. In the first part, Brunelle offers blowing, inspired by the most personal fragments from his repertoire. She explores the correlation between movement and breathing, and the counterpoint between pain and light. Anne Plamondon, who has collaborated with a number of international companies—Les Grands Ballets, Nederlands Dans Theater and the Alberta Ballet—will offer an original creation bringing together Canadian dancers.

Dance and music in the forest

The FASS is also a panoply of free outdoor shows, which enliven the city throughout the duration of the event. Among them, The paths of dance, back this year at Molson Park. These marked trails in the forest allow you to discover, along the way, short dance and musical performances. Everything takes place in two stages, with different artists each time: July 29 and 30 (Rock Bottom Movement, Audrey Gaussiran, Sinha Danse) and August 5 and 6 (Ismaël Mouaraki, Martin Messier and Kyra Jean Green). Places are limited, and you must reserve yours online.

BJM closing

The FASS will close on August 6 with Ballets Jazz Montréal. The Montreal company will offer for the occasion Essence, a well-regarded triple program. We can see there Ten Duets on a Theme of Rescue, by prominent choreographer Crystal Pite, who will be attending FASS for the first time. The public will also be able to enjoy a creation by renowned Canadian choreographer Aszure Barton with Jacques’ rooms. In a world premiere, Dallas performer and choreographer Ausia Jones, who joined the company in 2020, will present her creation We Can’t Forget What’s His Name.