Choreographer and signatory of Refus global Françoise Riopelle died Monday at the Jewish General Hospital, her family announced. She was 95 years old.
Born in 1927 in Montreal, the one who was born under the name of Françoise Lespérance is notably known as the founder of the first school of modern dance in Canada. Married at the age of 19 to the painter Jean Paul Riopelle, she moved to Paris with her husband a year later. She frequented the artistic scene there for more than 10 years, between 1946 and 1958, notably by doing modern dance courses.
Back in Montreal in 1958, she founded her own dance school. In 1961, with the artist Jeanne Renaud, she created the Groupe de danse moderne de Montréal, whose school was the first dedicated to this style in Canada.
Françoise Riopelle is known, among other things, as one of the 16 signatories of Refus global, a subversive artistic manifesto that challenged the traditional values of Quebec and paved the way for the province’s increased openness to modernity. Two signatories of the Refus global are still alive, namely Madeleine Arbor and Françoise Sullivan, both 99 years old.
Françoise Riopelle also taught in the Department of Theater at the Université du Québec à Montréal when the establishment opened in 1969. She raised two daughters born of her union with Jean Paul Riopelle, Yseult and Sylvie.
The director general of the Regroupement québécois de la danse (RQD), Nadine Medawar, reacted in writing to the announcement. “The RQD is deeply saddened by the news of the death of Françoise Riopelle, honorary member of the RDQ and one of the pioneers of modern dance in Quebec,” she told the To have to.
“The RDQ celebrates its authenticity and artistic generosity, which have pushed the limits through its many contributions to the dance sector,” added the person who heads the organization representing professionals and groups in the Quebec dance community.